Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini : foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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F

TRAVELS OF

MOTHER FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI

ST. JOSEPH’S SEMiNAf.

R 4 • fa A L- -

ELGIN -

T HE ENGLISH TRANSLATION of Mother Cabrifii's
travels, printed in London twenty years ago, lacks
much of the classic beauty of the original Italian.
Though the Blessed Foundress zvrote exclusively for
her ^'Daughterswithout any attempt to literary style,
the original letters, penned tra un^onda e Valtra, are
gems of literature.

This new edition is printed to satisfy the numerous
requests of Mother CabrinVs clients. A more faithful
and better translation zvill be published as soon as cir¬
cumstances permit. No letters of Mother Cabrini^s
first voyage were found among her manuscripts. This
volume begins with her second voyage to New York.

We are grateful to His Excellency, the Most Rev¬
erend Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, D.D. for his kind
permission to preface these letters with the biographical
sketch from his book Sanctity in America.*^

The Missionary Sisters of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus.

s'O-IOOL OP THCOLOC-
AT CLAREMONT

California

'omia

^TRAVELS of MOTHER
FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI

f

/

Foundress of The Missionary Sisters of The
Sacred Heart of Jesus

With a Biographical Sketch by
The Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, D.J3.
Apostolic Delegate to The United States

Published by

THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE
SACRED HEART OF JESUS

COPYRIGHT, 1944

BY THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS^
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

First Printing, November, 1944

Nihil Obstat:

Rev. J. J. Clifford, S. J.
Censor Deputatus.

Imprimatur:

i^^Samuel a. Stritch, D.D.
Archiepiscopus Chicagiensis
August 19, 1944

printed in the united states of AMERICA

BY THE WISCONSIN CUNEO PRESS, MILWAUKEE

CONTENTS

Page

Blessed Frances Xavier Cabrini, by the Most Rev.

Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, D.D. vii

Introduction, by Ottavio Turchi, SJ . xiii

Second Voyage to New York—April, 1890 . 1

New York to Havre—August, 1890 . 15

Havre to New York—September, 1891 . 21

New York to Nicaragua—October, 1891 . 35

Genoa to New York—September, 1894 . 55

New Orleans to Panama—May, 1895 . 77

Panama Down the Pacific and Across the Andes to

Buenos Aires—October, 1895 107

Buenos Aires to Barcelona—August, 1896 . 145

Liverpool to New York—November, 1898 . 161

New York to Havre—September, 1899 . 185

Genoa to Buenos Aires—December, 1900 . 195

Buenos Aires to Genoa—August, 1901 . 211

London to New York—August, 1902 217

Inauguration of the House in Denver—

November, 1902 229

Letter to the Alumnae of Rome—May, 1904 . 239

Letter to the Alumna of Rome—May, 1905 . 251

Letter to the Students of Teachers* College—

February, 1906 . 259

V

FOREWORD

d^iedded tranced )Cauier C^aL

rini

By the Most Reverend Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, D.D.
Apostolic Delegate to the United States,

tpRANCES XAVIER CABRINI was born at Sant’Angelo
^ di Lodi (Lombardy), Italy, on July 15, 1850, the young¬
est of a family of thirteen children. Even as a child she learned
to love prayer, following the splendid example of her parents,
her brothers and sisters. At the age of seven she was confirmed
and at ten received her First Holy Communion.

Frances, who possessed a ready intelligence and an unselfish
disposition, was fired with enthusiasm upon reading the Annals
of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Although she
was but a child, the missionary ideal was beginning to fasten
itself in her heart—only half understood perhaps, but none the
less real. In her child’s play, she would gather violets and, placing
them in tiny paper boats, send them away on the waters of the
country brooks, dreaming the while of herself making long voyages
to distant lands to carry on the work of converting pagans. When
she was thirteen she revealed her desire to her sister Rose, fifteen
years older than she. ‘‘You who are so small and not yet educated
dare to dream of becoming a missionary!” was the comment she
received. But Frances kept her radiant dream in her heart and
waited patiently. In the meantime she continued her studies,
and at the age of eighteen obtained her teacher’s certificate. A year
later her parents died.

Frances then definitely considered the question of her vo¬
cation. She sought to enter two religious communities, and in
each case was rejected on account of her delicate constitution
and poor health. Thus apparently unable to follow her heart’s
desire, the young girl nevertheless gave her leisure to works of

♦From “Sanctity in America”, St. Anthony Guild Press, Paterson. N. J.

vii

viii Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

charity and religion. At the request of the parish priest she
taught catechism to children and visited the poor; when she
was twenty-two (1872), she distinguished herself in assisting
the victims of an epidemic of smallpox.

For two years Frances now taught in the public school of
the nearby town of Vidardo, and became known even to the
civil authorities for her ability and her kindness. In 1874 she
accepted the position of directress of a school for orphans at
Codogno—always, however, keeping the missionary ideal before
her. In 1880 the Most Reverend Dominic Gelmini, Bishop of
Lodi, who had learned of the extraordinary intellectual and moral
qualities of the superior of the orphanage, summoned her and
said: ‘‘You wish to become a missionary; the time is ripe; I
do not know a community of missionary Sisters; you must found
one.” Frances, as an obedient daughter, answered humbly and
confidently: “I shall seek a house.” On November 14, 1880,
with a few companions she took up residence in an abandoned
monastery, formerly the property of the Franciscans of Codogno.
The new home was soon surmounted by a statue of the Sacred
Heart, and on the door was placed an inscription that is now
known throughout the world: “Institute of the Missionary Sisters
of the Sacred Heart.”

The new Institute grew rapidly, and in a few years there were
houses in many parts of Lombardy and Italy. In 1887 Mother
Cabrini went to Rome to request the approval of the Rule by the
Holy See, and to found a house in the Eternal City. The Cardinal
Vicar answered her: “A Community founded only seven years
ago wishes to establish itself in Rome and to be approved? This
is too much! In Rome there are already many such Commun¬
ities. And then, the funds? Do you have at least 150,000 lire
($30,000) to build a house? Return, return to Codogno: we will
talk about it some other time.” This answer was a deep disap¬
pointment, but Mother Cabrini, undaunted, comforted her weep¬
ing companion: “Be calm; the Lord will soon change his heart.”
God rewarded her faith, for a few days later she was again
received by the Cardinal Vicar. “Are you ready to obey?” he
asked. “Well then, found two houses instead of one.” And
shortly afterward, the decree of approval was given to the Institute.

Forezvord

IX

During her residence in Rome, Mother Frances Xavier had
occasion to make the acquaintance of the Most Reverend John
B. Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza and founder of the Missionaries
of St. Charles Borromeo for Italian Emigrants. It was this holy
bishop who first informed her of the conditions existing among
the Italians in America, and requested her to send some Sisters
to cooperate in the work that the Scalabrinians had already begun
in New York. Mother Cabrini had alw^ays earnestly desired to
go among the infidels of China, and she would not even now
have changed her plan had it not been for the advice given her
by Pope Leo XIII. “Not to the East, but to the West,*' said the
aged Pontiff; and Frances no longer had any doubts or regrets.
She was provided with letters of recommendation from the Secre¬
tariat of State of His Holiness and from the Sacred Congregation
of the Propagation of the Faith; and in just two weeks, she was
on her way to the United States with six companions.

She landed in America on March 31, 1889. Immediately there
were difficulties, but she was able to overcome them by her spirit
of faith and fortitude, in the knowledge that she was fulfilling
the mission entrusted to her by the Vicar of Jesus Christ. The
condition of the Italian immigrants socially, economically and
religiously was then very poor. The work of an apostle was
urgently needed among them to help them combat the constant
danger of loss of faith. Mother Cabrini began and extended
her work for them with an energy that at times seemed rash.
Taking for herself the motto of the Apostle, “Omnia possum in
eo qui me confortat*'—“I can do all things in Him Who
strengtheneth me** (Phil. 4:13)—she opened schools, colleges,
kindergartens, hospitals and free clinics in New York, New Or¬
leans, Chicago, Seattle, Denver and Philadelphia. She did not
confine her work to the United States but extended it to Nica¬
ragua, South America, Spain, France and England. Her program
was to follow the multitudes of Italians who had gone abroad
from their native land, to keep alive and renew the faith of the
adults and to care for the new generations. Unsparingly, she
undertook long and repeated journeys with the daring of a fear¬
less explorer. Her health, never strong, had become worse and
often she burned with a fever for months at a time; yet she went

X

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

without hesitation to whatever place offered a new field for the
charity of herself and her Sisters.

Mother Cabrini studied the advisability of purchasing new
properties, drew up contracts and directed construction of build¬
ings with an insight that seemed inspired. ''She constructed
islands of rest, havens against germs, cold, hunger and death;
restful houses of prayer and schools ventilated with fresh air as
if by the very breath of Jesus; and by all those buildings she
put in circulation the wealth of the rich for the benefit of the
poor. Mother Cabrini placed the education of the learned at
the disposal of the uneducated, turned kindness to the relief of
misery, and brought fresh air and sunlight for the destruction
of typhoid and tuberculosis. She was a swift and determined
agent of the Heart of Christ.''^ Her work did not destroy in
her the great tranquility of one who entrusts all to God Omni¬
potent; in the midst of her feverish activity "she seemed a
portrait of peace."^

If we can say that Mother Cabrini favored one field of endeavor
rather than another, it was the United States of America. She
lived and worked here about twenty years. She came to know
and love this country, and she saw in it the path of opportunity
for her fellow-countrymen and their children. Because of her
attachment to the United States, as well as to develop her enter¬
prises better and to unite her institutions to the country more
securely, she obtained American citizenship in Seattle, Wash¬
ington, in the year 1909. Mother Cabrini understood the great
future reserved to the Church in the United States. She founded
here many of her community's most elaborate institutions. She
understood the American mentality, and, in turn, Americans, in
their admiration for the complete dedication of the "little Sister"
to the work of God, assisted her generously. After 1912, Mother
Cabrini spent five consecutive years in the United States; that
is, until the day of her death, which occurred in Chicago on De¬
cember 22, 1917. Her body now rests in New York beneath the
high altar of the chapel of the Mother Cabrini High School, 701

1. “La Madre Cabrini in America,” by Igino Giordani, in UOsservatore
Romano, November 13, 1938, p. 3.

2. Parole Sparse della Beata Cabrini, by Don Giuseppe De Luca, Istituto
Grafico Tiberino, Roma, 1938, p. xlvi.

Foreword

XI

Fort Washington Avenue; and large numbers of the faithful
go there to venerate Blessed Frances Xavier Cabrini and to ask
for blessings and grace.

Beatification and Steps toward Canonization

The death of Mother Cabrini caused both mourning and lively
hope. Those who had been the objects of her charity soon began
to experience her efficacious protection from heaven. The tomb
of the ‘‘Mother of the Emigrants^' became the goal of pious
pilgrimages and the fame of her sanctity grew not only in Italy
and in America but wherever the Sisters of the Institute carried
on their works of charity and faith. The study of the Cause of
beatification began soon after her death. The ordinary process
was opened on August 3, 1928 at Chicago, and closed at Lodi,
Italy, on April 5, 1929. The apostolic process began at Lodi on
April 3, 1933, and was terminated at Chicago on September 27
of the same year. On October 3, 1933, in the presence of the
Apostolic Delegate to the United States, the recognition of the
body took place at West Park, New York, and it was then trans¬
ported to the Chapel of the Mother Cabrini High School in the
city of New York.

There seemed to be but one difficulty in the processes of beati¬
fication. Francis Xavier Cabrini had died only sixteen years
before, and Canon 2101 of the Code of Canon Law prescribes
that fifty years must elapse after the death of a Servant of God
before the examination into the heroism of his virtues is begun.
At this point in the process, on May 8, 1935, the writer of these
pages, as Apostolic Delegate to the United States of America,
humbly implored the Supreme Pontiff, Pius XI, to deign to
dispense from the prescriptions of Canon 2101 for the cause
of Mother Cabrini, and to give, as far as possible, precedence
to the Causes of beatification from the United States, especially
those of Mother Seton and Catherine Tekakwitha. The August
Pontiff, who had known Mother Cabrini personally, summoned
Monsignor Natucci, Promoter General of the Faith, granted the
dispensation and expressed the desire that the abovementioned
Causes proceed rapidly, “in view,*' as he said, “of the need of
great spiritual currents.'* On November 21, 1937, Frances Xavier

xii Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Cabrini was declared Venerable and on November 13, 1938, she
shone in triumph in the Basilica of St. Peter, the first citizen
of the United States officially pronounced Blessed in heaven.
The Pontifical Mass in the Vatican Basilica was celebrated by
His Eminence George Cardinal Mundelein, the late Archbishop
of Chicago, who twenty-one years before had celebrated Mother
Cabrini’s funeral Mass.

The Cause of Canonization was resumed the following year,
with the decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, dated June
21, 1939. The new miracles proposed were approved June 20,
1943 and the final decree of Canonization of Mother Frances Xavier
Cabrini was signed on February 27, 1944. Such rapid progress
is becoming in the case of one who in her lifetime saw the rise
through her own instrumentality, of sixty-seven houses of the
religious institute she had founded.

INTRODUCTION

'T'HE first cry heard in these pages is the voice of an apostle,
who yearns to win souls for the Heart of Jesus. They are
letters that breathe flames of love. One seems to hear Saint
Francis Xavier again repeating in his letters, “Oh, that I could
visit all the universities of Europe, especially that of Paris,” where
he had studied and taught, “and say to those who have more
learning than charity, how many souls are lost in India through
their fault. I should like to write to the professors and tell them
how many thousands of pagans are eternally lost for want of
labourers; that gold and diamonds are sought with more fervour
than the missionary seeks souls which cost Jesus Christ much
more than gold or diamonds. His Precious Blood and His Life.”

In like manner. Mother Cabrini wrote long letters to the Univer¬
sity Students, and to the other students of the House in Rome,
echoing the words of Saint Francis Xavier, and telling them that
innumerable souls, especially those of poor Italian emigrants who
go to the two Americas, were miserably lost through ignorance of
religion, the source of every other calamity, as Benedict XV, and
Pius X. often stated. She saw the Indians of Albuquerque with¬
out the light of the true faith, and, in consequence, suffered with
the sorrow of the Apostle. Albeit, she had led to America up to
the year 1906 more than 400 Missionary Sisters. Love is, says
the Holy Spirit, like unto fire and so is never satisfied, and longs
for new victories, investing all with its warmth. Just as Saint
Francis Xavier made the conversion of China the chief object of
his desire, so did Mother Cabrini make it her own most ardent
wish. But Saint Francis Xavier died at Sancian, at the entrance
of China, without being able to enter it, and our Missionary Sister
died before she was able to conduct any of her children thither.
But as Saint Francis Xavier in Heaven obtained for his brethren
their entrance and Apostolate in the vast Chinese Empire, so
Mother Cabrini, having become more powerful in Heaven, has
opened this new field to the indomitable zeal of the Missionary
Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Even “Darkest Africa,”
once so fruitful in Fathers, Doctors and Martyrs of the Church,

xiii

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

seemed to her destined to provide many a hero of the Faith.
Women, indeed, are called by God to be really helpful to the
African Missionaries!

We are touched when we see in her letters how she reproached
the steamers which did not move fast enough to satisfy her zeal!
She wept when she met entire populations, still uncivilized, groping
yet in the darkness of error. She hastened to make a vow to go
where the missionary had not yet reached. She shuddered when
she saw how Protestants fearlessly travelled to imbue people with
their false doctrines, and to earn the large salary which the Bible
Society of London and U.S.A. offers. How she lamented and
reproached, with womanly eloquence, the pusillanimity of so many
Catholics. She envied those who spoke English and Spanish, and
she made an effort to say a few words, but her tongue could not
do justice to the ardent aspirations of her heart, for she wanted
to tell of the beauty of the Catholic Religion and the attraction of
the Sacred Heart. Secretly she mourned whilst voyaging on one
occasion with 1,300 Italian emigrants from Italy and Switzerland,
who were so poor and crowded in the third-class cabins, that in
the New World they were called Barbarians, and she sorrowed
more at the fact that these unfortunate people had no one to speak
to them of God. How sublime was that apostolic exclamation:_

“Oh, if I could build a steamer for myself to traverse all these
seas! I should call it ‘Christopher,’ i.e., the bearer of Christ to
the people.”

One might ask on taking this book in hand, “How could a
Missionary Nun, who, in thirty-five years, crossed the ocean
thirty times, climbed the awe-inspiring Cordilleras, and traversed
the immense Pampas which extends from Mendoza to Rio de la
Plata, and founded hundreds of schools and institutes of Charity,
write such long accounts of her voyages?” She wrote on the
decks of the steamers. How great must have been her power of
quiet concentration! W^hat control of self was required I And,
though she always suffered poor health, she was always anxious
for the health of her spiritual daughters, who suffered during
these voyages, and for the government of the many communities
of her Institute. It was a spectacle worthy of angels and of men.
Where others well inured to travelling would succumb to fatigue,
this woman remained calm and serene.

Introduction

XV

She relates that in one of her voyages she was obliged to change
steamers nine times in twelve days, the ships being unable to
continue. She was obliged to walk on a plank for four hours
under a downpour of rain with no place of shelter near. She
watched over her spiritual daughters who succumbed to the
hardships of the storm-tossed voyage, and would spend hours in
their cabins, encouraging them and trying to make them happy.
It is delightful to read her ever kindly comments on the sea-woes
of her dear companions. As things improved, she would gather
them around her on deck to perform their devotions as if in the
Convent. They had lectures, meditations, examination of con¬
science, as prescribed by the Rules. They made novenas for the
Feasts of Our Lord, Our Lady and the Saints. They sang the
Litanies, Ave Maris Stella, and the voices of the Sisters blended
with the waves of the ocean. At times a crowd of astonished
voyagers took part in these reunions. If on the steamer a priest
was present, she rejoiced to be able to hear Mass, to receive Holy
Communion, to have the usual ceremonies, and would tactfully
make arrangements for the priest to preach to the people. How
she would grieve when on board there was no Holy Communion,
no Holy Mass celebrated! On arrival at some port where the
steamer stopped for a short time, she would make every effort to
get on shore to assist at the Holy Sacrifice. When from the
steamers she perceived the steeple of some church, her thoughts
would fly to the Tabernacle, and she would invite her children to
make a Spiritual Communion.

Whence did this Missionary Sister draw so much calmness of
spirit? Did she not feel and fear the difficulties and see the
dangers? Yes, she felt them and feared them! She instinctively
feared the sea, for at seven years of age she accidentally fell into
a swift stream, and was all but carried away by the turbulent
current. She was saved almost miraculously, but her constitution,
already delicate, ever felt the consequences. If it were not the
voice of the Holy Father that consigned to her the American
Missions of the Italian emigrants, she would never have dared to
cross the ocean. But Holy Obedience and her Apostolic aim had
almost transformed her nature. She looked serenely at the roaring
waves and blessed them with a little statue of the Saviour. Every¬
one advised her not to attempt to traverse the Cordilleras of the

xvi Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Andes; but nothing could frighten her indomitable heart, neither
the terrific heights, nor volcanoes, nor snow eight metres deep,
nor lakes, nor the incredible distances. Confident in Our Lady,
Saint Rose and Saint Philomena, she crossed these mountains on
mules to reach Buenos Aires, where she was to found schools for
all classes. As her Patron Saint used to say, so she repeated,
“I am afraid only of want of confidence in God my Protector.”
After her first voyage to New York, which was in 1889, she was
wont to write: “My secure boat is the Sacred Heart, my Star
of the sea is Mary, and my Protector is Saint Francis Xavier,
the wonder worker.”

The pages of these letters are very attractive in many ways,
but everything else yields to the fragrance of their religious
spirit. Her letters indicate the free up-soaring of her soul, and
she did not learn all this in the school of rhetoric, but from the
Holy Spirit during her daily communications with God. To see
in her voyages the beauty of nature, of art, particularly of the
cities she visited, was, as it were, for her to raise herself on the
wings of love from visible things to the invisible. In the immensity
and depths of the ocean she contemplated the Majesty of God, in
the tempests she saw His divine displeasure provoked by the
crimes of men. She painted the storms with the brush of a great
artist, and so vividly, that one shudders as page unfolds page.
The transparent azure sea was, as it were, for her the Heaven of
a soul possessed of God. The works of Jesus in the souls united
to Him she describes in such detailed mystic psychology, that
one would think she spoke of her own personal experiences. If,
in such matters, she emulates Saint Teresa, when dealing with the
Sacred Heart, she recalls to our minds Saint Gertrude. The
Christian Feasts which occurred during her voyages were passed
in sublime and practical contemplation, the like of which I have
never read of in other books.

She lived always in the midst of her loving daughters, and by
her letters she encouraged them to seek that religious perfection
required by the glorious title of Missionary of the Sacred Heart.
She thinks of all her daughters scattered in her many Houses,
though many of them are 4,000 or 6,000 miles away. With those
who are with her, she forms one heart and one soul with them in
the heart of Jesus, conversing, singing, working with and amusing

Introduction

xvii

them. There are perhaps fifteen Sisters with her on a voyage, and
she makes each Sister represent a Mystery of the Rosary. To them
she is the Mother rather than the Superior; she charms them, and
does what she likes with them in order to give them Jesus Christ.

At a tender age she consecrated her genius, her heart, her time
and even her very life. Death suddenly snatched her from us in
the Hospital of Chicago, founded by her, while she was preparing
Christmas presents for five hundred children. The poor emigrants,
especially the sick, were her favourites. For them she founded
several Hospitals of New York, Chicago and Seattle, where many
thousands of Italians find refuge and health. In these letters of
hers are found counsels for the solution of the Emigration prob¬
lem; she is full of compassion for the emigrants, who are often
deceived by those who hypocritically pretend to act as their
protectors, cloaking their unjust intentions with the mantle of
philanthropy and patriotism. The fate of many Italians would
have been dreadful if they had not had help from the Missionary
Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Who would have consoled them in
prison, visited their unfortunate families, fed their orphans, de¬
fended their cases even in civil courts and obtained reductions
of their penalties? And especially can we read of the lamentable
condition of the Italians working in the coal-mines, buried alive
away from their families and hearing little or nothing about God.

Mother Cabrini had the gift of being all to all in order to bring
them to God. One reads of this in the two long letters addressed
to the students of Rome who were preparing themselves for public
teaching. They are typical letters, rich with interesting news,
written spontaneously, yet in how perfect a style! In them you
may recognise the teacher of natural history, literature, pedagogy.
They are two masterpieces of their class, wherein are blended
sound piety and sound erudition. Associating utility and sweetness,
she raises the mind of young girls from earth to Heaven, describing
the elevation of woman through Mary Immaculate, whom she
represents as a cloud illumined by the sun or by the rainbow an¬
nouncing clear weather. Without any effort she gives them a
catechetical lesson, and speaks of religious culture as if she were a
Bishop . . . She shows the need of discipline to form the character,
and, speaking with full conviction, she declares it to be the only
guarantee of success for private individuals and public institutions.

xviii Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

She closes her two letters to her dear students, calming their fears
for their coming exams, which are the torment and bugbear of
youth, showing them the secret of success.

We must not suppose that the foundations of Mother Cabrini
always enjoyed a favourable wind. It is certain, however, as is
seen in these accounts, that when the strong woman encountered
difficulty in her foundations, she felt more courage and hoped,
like Abraham, against hope. The reason is sublime and derived
from her evangelical meditations. ‘Tnstead of fearing, I felt more
encouraged, and I seemed to rejoice when my work began with
a cross, which is the seal of all good enterprises.'’ She always
depended on the local Bishops, and never began anything without
their approbation. Read what happened in Paris, as narrated of
that foundation.

Her strong will and indomitable courage appear in her letters.
Read the account of the expulsion of her daughters from Nicaragua.
She was always true to herself, always well-balanced in mind and
heart, having the grand programme of St. Ignatius before her.
‘‘Ad majorem Dei gloriam et ad animarum salutem." This was
the programme of Our Saviour Himself. These sublime ideals
permeate her account of her transactions with Presidents of
Republics, with Bishops, captains of ships and public administra¬
tors, for the foundations of Houses.

“The style of writing reveals the man." This is true where
the writings are simple, and these letters reflect, faithfully, humility,
strength, patience, perseverance, constancy in enterprise, contempt
of the world, the holy freedom of the love of God, candour of the
soul, the most fragrant zeal for the glory of the Sacred Heart and
for the salvation of souls, which so enriched the heart of Mother
Cabrini.

In reading these letters I felt better, and thank the Author of
all good. For my apostolic life, I learned salutary truths.

The comfort I derived from the reading of these letters I wish
to all other readers of them, but in double measure.

Ottavio Turchi, S.J.

CHAPTER I

Second Sdoy^age to Tlew
CZpni i8go

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

Friday, April 18, 1890.

My dear Daughters: (*)

When I left you, last Wednesday, I tried to think that I was
only going as far as Milan, and would therefore remain near you;
but in Milan, when I was about to undertake such a long journey
across the ocean and leave you for a long time, I felt overwhelmed.
Relief came when I remembered the promises, made by each one
of you, to study to become true brides of Christ and worthy
Missionaries of His Sacred Heart.

How much this thought, my daughters, softens every pain!
It makes me find sweetness in all labours and crosses, should I
have any, and gives me great joy. If we reflect well, for us there
are no distances: the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
must participate in the immensity of this Divine Heart, Who
embraces all, comprehends all, animates all, unites all in Himself.
It is He Who sustains us in these temporary separations. Who
makes us share in His strength. Who communicates to us every
grace. He is our true Treasure; love Him with all your hearts,
serve Him faithfully, encourage all souls to be detached from
creatures, from all things, even from themselves, that they may
succeed in possessing His perfect love, which is an anticipation
of Heaven. Let all your affections, my daughters, be centred in
this beautiful Heart, and you will always be happy; but if,
instead, you foster private affections that tie you to self, or to

♦ The Missionary Sisters of The Sacred Heart, The Alumnae and Students
of the Teachers* College in Rome, to whom these letters were addressed,
are affectionately called “Daughters,** by Mother Cabrini.

1

2

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

creatures, you will always have annoyances, hours of disgust and
melancholy. Free yourselves, and put on wings, I pray you, in
order that you may rise above the earth.

Arrival at Paris, The journey has been very happy. While
we were passing through those high chains of mountains, and
admiring so many beauties of nature created by God just to give
pleasure to His creatures, our souls felt raised to sublime medita¬
tion. It was beautiful to notice the sweet impression the many
various sights they saw made on the minds and in the hearts of
the Sisters, for this was the first time they had made this journey.

About 2 a.m. someone opened the door of the compartment and
asked us to alight, but we did not obey, because we had been told
it was a through train to Paris. Three minutes later they returned
and begged us again to leave the compartment, but they received
no satisfaction, because I did not understand what they were
saying. Sister Ignatius, half-asleep, contented herself with answer¬
ing, “Close the door.’’ To bring us to our senses, the Station-
master, accompanied by several porters, told us that the carriage
in which we were had broken down. At last we understood and
left the compartment in haste. Quicker than I could tell, our
luggage was transferred to another compartment, where we re¬
mained very comfortable until we arrived in Paris. We then
thanked our dear Spouse for the great love He had shown us in
preserving us. We made a very fervent Spiritual Communion,
and went to sleep again!

We arrived in Paris an hour and a half behind time on account
of the accident, nevertheless we found Mrs. Gabin awaiting us.
At once she conducted us to the Church of Our Lady of Victories,
where we all received Holy Communion, to the great joy of our
souls. This being our first visit to this Sanctuary, it left a great
impression on me. The most holy Virgin, our loving Mother,
invited me, maybe, because I have placed our Institute and each
one of you in a special manner under her protection, and through
her, in the Heart of the Child Jesus. What beautiful graces will
shower down upon us, for our sanctification, for the good of the
Institute and for the salvation of souls! We spent a few hours,
accompanied by a lady who was our guide, in viewing the principal
streets and sights of importance. A little after mid-day we

Second Voyage to New York—Aprils 1890

3

took train for Havre, and arrived there about 5 o’clock in the
afternoon.

Saturday, 19th. This morning we went to visit and pay our
respects to the Captain and Commissioner. They listened with
great courtesy, and offered their help in all our needs. These
persons did not know us, but they were so kind to us. From
this we can learn to appreciate the great love the Heart of Jesus
has for His Spouses. He heaps upon us benefits and favours we
do not merit. Let us be ever grateful, so that gratitude may
obtain for us greater graces. This morning we went on deck,
saluted the sea, the image of the immensity of God, then we
recited our prayers, which, without effort, came fervently from
our souls. We then recited the Ave Maris Stella. We did not
sing because we were afraid of disturbing the other passengers on
board, but the Most Holy Virgin, who had blessed our departure,
listened to the melody of the affections of her devout daughters,
if not the melody of their voices.

At 9 a.m. we left the port, and in a short time we were soon on
the open sea and had lost sight of land. It was raining a little,
but the passengers said we should have a good voyage. We did
not feel anxious about this, because we knew we were in the Hands
of God, enclosed in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and this
thought rendered us secure and tranquil in every event. As soon
as Sister Battistina saw the boat move, she said she felt a dizziness
in her head. Half-an-hour later she was very sick, and one after
the other followed her example. I was the only one who remained
unaffected. I wished the boat were steady, so that I might go
on with my work, but I found I had to give up all idea of this.
However, I continued to feel much better, and by degrees I felt I
could breathe more freely. This, too, helped me to raise my
soul to God, and I could almost say in all seriousness what I said
jocularly a few days ago, that if the Sacred Heart would give me
the means I would construct a boat called “The House of Gris-
toforo” (“Bearer of Christ”) to traverse with one Community,
little or big, so as to carry the Name of Christ to all people, to
those who as yet do not know Him, and also to those who have
forgotten Him. But these are futile thoughts, and I do not permit
them to occupy my mind, but they serve for a little recreation.

4

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

At half-past ten the bell rang for breakfast; they all found
courage to come to table with me, but could not take anything,
and they soon left one after the other. Sister Ignatius tried to
force herself to eat and keep herself strong, but half through the
meal she also had to follow the others. I remained alone and
stayed until breakfast was over.

Sunday, April 20th. Yesterday, at dinner, all the Sisters came
to table and took a little refreshment. Then we all went on deck
to inhale the air and revive and refresh our lungs. At half-past
seven we returned to our cabins. We stayed a little time and
said prayers. Towards nine o’clock we went to bed and slept
all night. The sea was very calm. Sister Assunta thought she
heard a hurricane, but it was only a little rain beating against the
windows. You should see poor Sister Assunta! She looks so
woe-begone. How would she be if the sea were at all rough?
However, she laughs heartily when asked what is worrying her
and making her look so miserable.

This morning the sea is still very calm. I have never seen it
so calm. It is literally like a lake. The boat goes so quickly,
and we don’t feel the motion at all. The sun shines beautifully,
and the air is good. There is no odour in the cabin whatever.
The boat is so well-built and well-ventilated; we seem to be having
a journey on land. For all that, all the Sisters were not able to
be present at breakfast, and the few that came were not able to
stay. I soon found myself alone as yesterday. The steward,
who is near us at table, gave orders to the waiters to bring some¬
thing special for the Sisters who were sick. Poor Sisters! At
every movement of the boat they think we are in a great storm.
Sister Eletta would like to have the boat stopped, at least during
meals. I told the steward this just to make him laugh; he is so
kind, he looks like a Saint Francis de Sales.

How many beautiful thoughts the calmness of the sea suggests.
We see in it the happiness of a soul that lives in the tranquillity
of the grace of God. In such a fortunate soul all is calm; peace
undisturbed; it has the capacity of raising itself to the sublimity
of the Divine mysteries. This gives us a vision of the immensity
of the power of God, Who commands this endless sea, which could
rise in whirling billows, while on the contrary it remains calm and

5

Second Voyage to New York — April, 1890

tranquil. God commands, the sea obeys. If also in Religion
every Sister would obey her Superior, with perfect submission
that is, without relying on her own judgment, what calmness,
what tranquillity, what a sweetness of Paradise would be hers!
My daughters! Act in this way, be obedient, be most humble,
not having your own judgment, submitting with great peace and
simplicity to your Superiors, and there will be in your Houses a
true anticipated Paradise which will precede the eternal one which
awaits you. It seems as if Jesus Himself has said to the sea,
“Peace be with you.” Hence this is a figure of a pure soul, with¬
out wrath, who leaves all, and is united exclusively with her beloved
and Divine Spouse; reposing on His left arm while with the right
He caresses her. My dear daughters, be purely disinterested, be
detached from all things and all persons, and also from yourselves,
from your desires and inclinations, and thus be like a true sea of
peace. You will become like a great ocean, because the pure
soul is capable of great things, and the mind is thus able to wander
in the immensity of God. The soul full of earthly ties, full of
attachments, is always narrow, very small, understands little,
pusillanimous, frequently dejected, and is never able to throw
itself into the immensity of Divine Service. I don’t want any
such souls among my daughters, nor among my friends. I want
you all to have wings and fly swiftly and repose in that blessed
peace possessed by a soul that is all for God. Therefore I desire
to be likewise. Then pray, my daughters, pray for me; I have
many desires, but all are barren. If these desires were talents,
oh, how badly off I should still be, because I should be obliged to
multiply them, even now they lie hidden and bear no fruit. The
thought that we can always humble ourselves and obtain pardon
from God is a consolation for me. Yes, my daughters, let us
always humble ourselves before God in every instant of our life,
and we shall be, by God’s merciful condescension, raised above
our pettiness, and we shall be admitted to a foretaste of the peace
and tranquillity of which the sea I am crossing is an image.

Monday, 21st. Here we are; the see-saw has started, moved
by almighty hand of God: willy nilly we have to play the game.
Yesterday about five o’clock in the afternoon the sea began
to be a real sea. It was not possible to stand on your feet without

6

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

leaning on something for support. Already five hours have elapsed
since Sister Eletta began to pray God to calm the sea. But now,
seeing such a frightful spectacle, she is lost for words, and thinks
the best thing to do is to go to bed as the other Sisters have done.
I remain firm and always keep on deck. I made them laugh so
much that Sister Eletta said she felt almost better. After supper,
about six o’clock, I wanted to see the other good Sisters, and,
following their example, I began to feel sea-sick. Patience! Twice
I was obliged to resign myself to their company. Sister Assunta
looks like a soul full of thoughts and weariness. Sister Giovannina
is always laughing, even when she is very sick. Sister Agostina
also smiles. Sister Bernardina is just like one dead, so is Sister
Battistina! Sister Ignatius tries to endeavour to follow my
example, but after a time she has to run for her life, or else stay
in the cabin so as not to fall. Of all the passengers on board,
both men and women, only six or seven come to the table. It is
dreadful if we do not try to resist this sickness; the best plan is
to stay on deck; even if it rains, it is better to remain in the
open. Last night, I stayed until after midnight, partly dressed
(because I believed a storm was threatening), so as to be ready
to save myself and all; but the good God is continually watching
over His Spouses. The great swing subsided though the gale beat
all round us. I rose early this morning to go on deck to view
the wonderful spectacle. Oh! how beautiful is the sea in its
great motion! How the waves swell and foam! Enchanting!
The wind is, however, favourable, and the boat goes so quickly,
it seems to fly. If you could only see the waves! None of us
could stay at the stern because the waves swept over the vessel
at every moment. At the bows it is not so bad, and, stretched in
an armchair, I can write fairly well. A single wave could sub¬
merge all, but He Who has created the sea and has commanded
it to rise like mountains, would not permit His beloved creatures
to be drowned, much less His loving Spouses. God loved us
before He created the sea; nay, He created the sea itself for our
use and pleasure. He has chosen us for His Spouses, and we
have answered His call, attracted by His infinite lovableness.
Let us remain, my daughters, entirely subject to Plim, conquered
by His love; and let us run swiftly in His footsteps. The good
God has perpetually loved us with the love of predilection, so let

Second Voyage to Nezv York — April, 1890

7

us love Him and serve Him with joy during the few days of our
life. If you were all here with me, dear daughters, to cross the
immense ocean, you would exclaim, ‘‘Oh, how great and loving
is God in all His works!'’ But the ocean of graces, oh, my
daughters, that the good Jesus pours down upon us, in every
instant of our life, is immensely superior to anything in nature.
All natural splendours are eclipsed by the abundance of riches
which God showers upon His beloved Spouses. Let us venerate
and love, then, our excellent state, and let us examine ourselves
frequently and remove all defects that are unbecoming the Virgins
of Christ, so that our Beloved may quickly introduce us into the
Holy of Holies and plant charity in our souls.

Tuesday, 22nd April, To-day I am writing a few lines only,
because I am tired out after what we have gone through. Yester¬
day evening the movement of the boat increased. It dipped at the
stern to such an extent that we thought every moment it would
capsize. Then they increased the speed of the engines so much
that about midnight we felt a terrible shock, and the boat stopped
suddenly. The engine was broken. The blowing of the horn, a
bell and a bugle called all the sailors up. A great noise was
heard, but no one knew what it was except that we realised the
ship was at a standstill. I got up in order to secure a life-belt
in case it was necessary. As soon as I was dressed I went to see
all the Sisters. Sister Eletta ran to me first—she was terrified,
and asked if I had heard anything. I laughed heartily in order
to make her laugh so as to chase away her fears. In her cabin
all were alarmed, while in the next all were sleeping as if nothing
had happened. I thought it better to leave them there because
they were all sleeping soundly. Meantime we went to see what
was wrong. They told me we should be obliged to stay here
until the engine was repaired; however the sea became tranquil,
and the boat rocked gently. The voyage was impeded from about
midnight until eleven next morning, when, while we were at table
for breakfast, the boat renewed its course. Now we are swiftly
sailing towards New York on a calm sea, as if nothing had hap¬
pened. In the meantime, when the boat was at a halt, all the Sisters
got up, and now I am pleased to see them all with me on deck.
Sister Agostina, Sister Battistina and Sister Assunta are still half-

8

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

bewildered. They don’t feel able to take anything, although it
is nice to see them smiling and always resigned to the dear and
holy Will of God. Having lost my sleep last night, I am very
tired. Nevertheless I walk about, I eat; I am with you in spirit.
To-night I will sleep, if the good God does not wish otherwise.
Often we take pleasure in seeing the beautiful seagulls, at one
moment flying in the air and at another frolicking on the water.
They seem to be the image of our Guardian Angels, or of the many
dear young Virgins that come to our Institute to become Mission¬
aries. This is the first time I have seen seagulls.

Wednesday, 23rd April. We are near the shore of Newfound¬
land, and, as usual at this spot, the boat has an extraordinary
movement indeed, which makes everyone feel uncomfortable. All
the Sisters are again ill, or, rather, half-dead, except Sister Eletta
and Sister Giovannina, who are now quite used to the sea and
keep me company. Sister Eletta is our amusement with her
geographical difficulties. She does not understand how the pilot
of our ship is so ignorant as to keep in mid-ocean, while other
boats from time to time in the distance always sail on the horizon,
and therefore she thinks they are nearer the land and more secure
than we are. And she marvels to see how the great circle is always
at the same distance. To-day they have prepared the list of
passengers to be given to the Officer of New York as soon as we
enter the bay. Our names along with the others were stamped
on a most beautiful card, and given to each first-class passenger.
Sister Giovannina was from the beginning named Sister Giovan-
nona. The points of meditation we have always ready; at the
sight of the sea many beautiful thoughts and feelings arise
within one. The sky is blue and the horizon is vast. It is the
image of the love of God when it takes possession of a soul and
makes it capable of an immensity of holy deeds. Yes! Grace is
an infinite treasure of God and those who receive it, and make
good use of it, are truly partakers of the friendship of God. Is it
not precious for the immense increase which at every hour it
makes in our souls? It is true, then, that the ocean is a beauti¬
ful image of grace. Let us try, oh, my daughters, to attract the
grace of God to our souls, by perfect detachment of all and from

Second Voyage to New York—Aprils 1890 9

all, even from our most ardent desires that may disturb the peace
and quietness of soul, which are the fruits of grace.

Thursday, 24th April, I write after having assisted at a spectacle
quite new to myself and also new to some of the sailors. About
eleven o'clock we saw ourselves surrounded by enormous masses
of ice. At first they appeared to be things of no importance, like
white doves resting on the water, but afterwards, little by little,
they grew much larger. They took enormous proportions, and
when we got nearer to them we saw that they were about twelve
times larger than our ship. The Captain reduced the speed of
the engines and took a different route to avoid them, but for all
that at one moment we were only a distance of about sixty yards
from them. Now we see some of them in the distance. We feel
afraid of the coming night. Perhaps, then, there will be danger,
but we leave ourselves in the Hands of the good Jesus.

A gentleman who already had made twenty-one ocean voyages
had never seen a spectacle like this before; this has precisely been
reserved for us. These icebergs are similar to great fortresses
with their cutting notches. The sea to-day is very tranquil. All
the Sisters are well except Sister Agostina, who still looks nearly
half-dead. First one thing and then another delays our arrival.
According to our calculations we shall not arrive before Tuesday.
Imagine! We thought we should arrive in time to keep the Feast
of the Patronage of Saint Joseph; instead we shall have to pass
the Feast on sea and without Holy Communion. We are beginning
to feel gravely the austerity of this painful fast. Oh, yes! when
we arrive on land we shall look for a priest at once, in order that
we may communicate, as we did a year ago. The marvellous
spectacle, which is continually present to our vision, offers us a
good preparation for Holy Communion, as we all see this is the
work of Him, Whom we so ardently desire to welcome in the
small Sanctuary of our souls.

Friday, 25th April, To-day it is very hot, just like July. The
sea is very beautiful, but the motion of the boat is very marked.
The chairs will not stand in their places, and the waiters have a
lot to do in order to keep them fastened, so that we may be
comfortable and able to stay in the open. However, all the

10 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Sisters are well. They have had breakfast with me, to my great
delight.

The ladies were late in getting up this morning, and we have
been able to say the prayers and Office of the Sacred Heart on
deck. We also made a little meditation on the beautiful lesson
of Saint Bernard, wherein he speaks of the force and power of the
love of God in a soul, and how the possession of this love enables
a soul not to feel further the weight of any cross, which rather
becomes a great pleasure and delight. Oh, happy the soul that
lives in the true love of Christ! My daughters, detach yourselves
from all persons and all things, and you will have a foretaste of
the Paradise of true, solid and Heavenly love.

Before we went to rest last night we were thinking of you making
the Holy Hour perhaps for us. We united with you in spirit and
tasted with you the Paradise of holy union with God. Every day
we invoke the Star of the Sea with the Ave Maris Stella, in honour
of our loving Mother who truly protects us. Only yesterday we
escaped a collision with those enormous masses of ice that were
threatening our ruin. We owe this to our dear and powerful
Mother. We are fairly happy. It seems that the passengers share
our happiness, for first one and then another comes to stay and
favour us with their company.

Saturday, 26th April, Yesterday, about three o’clock, a heavy
fog set in. So dense was it that we could only see a distance of
a few yards. Fogs are always a source of great danger, more so
on sea than on land. Our fear increased, for again we saw blocks
of ice floating all round the boat. The engine was stopped for
fear of striking against some of these masses of ice, but before
evening the fog cleared, and we could see the horizon clearly.
So the night will be calm. For fear of the ice the boat diverted its
route. Whilst at other times the route is more northern towards
the Banks of Terranova, this time it is more towards the south.
Meantime the heat is like summer. For three days I look like
Bacchus. My forehead is very red, even purple, and this redness
is spreading all over my face. At first I thought it was erysipelas.
I did not like the prospect, for I should have had to retire from
the open, and fresh air is life to me. Happily, however, the doctor
said the redness was the effect of the air and of the water which

Second Voyage to New York — April, 1890

11

was spraying on my face. I did not want to run away directly
it began to rain and deprive myself of the air.

To-day the skin has begun to peel off my forehead and nose. I
am changing like a serpent. God wants me to change my life and
be converted; to confirm this, my dearest daughters, pray. The
Sacred Heart of Jesus will always hear favourably the prayers of
children for their Mother. Pray! Pray! I am in need of your
intercession. When I am converted and begin to lead a good
life, it is certain that this will obtain many beautiful graces for
the Institute. However, I am happy to think you have been so
good. While in the midst of many dangers, especially those
enormous masses of ice, we did not fall into the sea. Continue to
be good, more generous and sacrificing, humble and meek on all
occasions, especially in the moments when you feel self-love.

A Protestant gentleman last night came and asked me to go
with all the Sisters to a concert. I told him we could not accept
the invitation, as Religious did not go to secular entertainments
or amusements. Pie wanted to stay with us. He presented us
with six tickets of a lottery worth half-a-dollar each, and he
promised to be on the alert when the tickets were being drawn.
I am sorry I do not understand, as this gentleman is a very good
man. I like his frankness and the manner in which he speaks of
our Holy Religion. Patience! pray to the Sacred Heart and
Our Lady for his salvation. He is an Englishman who has lived
for five years in New York. He promised to come and bring his
wife with him to see our Orphanage; his wife is a Catholic. This
gentleman thinks we have undertaken a very difficult mission,
which offers little probability of success—that of the Italians; but
hearing that it was just for this reason we undertook it, and will
at any cost work for it, he has more esteem for us than ever, and
is willing to give us help. Also another passenger, a certain De
Pedro, Milanese, is travelling with us. At first he did not make
himself known as an Italian, but when he saw everybody coming
to us and making friends, he came also and declared his friend¬
ship, saying how happy he was to know us. Now he delights
in spealcing Milanese with all his power. He admires also the
success we have achieved in a few months, while he, for fifteen
years, so he says, found nothing but sorrows and disappointments

12

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

numerous enough to fill a volume. The poor man does not know
Jesus and the goodness of His Heart. He trusts only to his
talents. Thus his days cannot be happy.

Sunday, 27th April. To-day is the beautiful Feast of the
Patronage of Saint Joseph. If we could find a priest on board,
we should at least be able to hear Holy Mass; instead, this is the
second Sunday that 1,300 persons are without Mass. There are
on board 900 poor emigrants of the third-class, 700 Italians and
200 Swiss. Poor things! I hope at least they will arrive in a
town or village where there will be someone who will break for
them the bread of the Mford of God. But God alone knows what
will happen to the greater part of them! Perhaps they will
become associated with their poor brothers of the New World,
called Barbarians, because they have forgotten the noble principles
of the Religion they were brought up in. For, unfortunately,
they have amongst them a rabid anarchist, who often gathers
them around him and, like Belial, incites them to revolt against
authority and order in such a manner that the officers of the boat
have to interfere. This is a small picture of many European
nations, whose sons have lost the true sense of patriotism, at the
mercy of their disorderly passions and of civil wars. They go
rapidly towards their last ruin, the just punishment of God upon
those who have forgotten that the Catholic Religion of their
country constitutes their principal nobility and security.

Oh, let us pray, my daughters, let us pray for so many of our
brethren, and let their blindness be a good lesson and teach us
to be more faithful in the observance of our Holy Rules, in order
to console the afflicted Heart of Jesus, and obtain from Him
blessings in great abundance for ourselves and for our neighbours.
Their mistake will induce us to remain very humble in order that
we may be enlightened and never allow our intellect to be
darkened. God resists and confounds the proud, whereas He
reveals Himself to the humble, and draws them nearer to Him
and caresses them. I don’t want any among the Missionaries of
the Sacred Heart to be attached to her own judgment, to cherish
her own reasons, to receive badly any corrections from whom¬
soever it is given, or to submit with a bad will to this or that
Superior. Each one must consider it a duty, rather, feel it a

13

Second Voyage to New York — April, 1890

necessity, to be under subjection to all. The Religious who acts
in this way will be a true jewel of our Institute and an object of
complacency to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. She will move
Him to pour forth upon us many great treasures. Are you, then,
humble, my daughters? Do you like the last place? Are you
pleased to be despised, forgotten, and to be made of no account?
The one who feels in this disposition, oh, let her pray for me!
She is a real gem presented to me by my dearest Jesus; through
her I will obtain all. Last evening the Commissioner of the boat
presented me with six tickets for the lottery and another gentle¬
man six more—now we have fifteen. To-day the drawing is to
take place; we shall see who is successful.

Monday, 28th April. To-day we shall see land about three in
the afternoon, but perhaps we shall not arrive in port until late
in the evening, and we shall have to sleep again on sea. Our
poor Sisters will be equally impatient to see us as we are to
embrace them. We have been greatly delayed, but here we are
now, and it is our duty to thank the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
We were alarmed on the day the engine broke down, but now we
know that the delay was a great grace, because without this delay
the meeting with the icebergs would have happened during the night
and been fraught with great danger. Yesterday we were presented
with other tickets for the lottery, in all nearly a hundred lire worth.
They invited me to view the exhibition. I found nothing of any use
to us. Even if we win, it will matter very little, because they
are all useless things. I hope to have a greater gain of a more
important kind—that of converting, with the help of the Most
Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Protestant gentleman who presented
me first with the tickets. Yesterday we had a discussion, and
he ended by saying I was right. He loves the Pope very much
and feels a profound veneration for him. He also has a great
esteem for our holy Religion, but he does not wish to embrace it
because he has seen so many priests without the true spirit; but
also on this point he understood well when I told him the reason.
You should see with what patience he listens to me when I speak.
The Sisters tell him in English what he has not understood from me.
He is very intelligent, and from the expression on my face he under¬
stands what I intend to say. He asks me to speak English as

14 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

well as I can, and he helps me with some French words, saying
he can understand. Sister Bernardina is going to make a novena
for me to obtain the grace to speak English, and assures me she
will obtain it. What do you think of it? I fear the day of
judgment will arrive before I learn English. Notwithstanding, I
trust in my good Jesus, and if He wants me to bring to His Heart
any souls. He will also give me the grace to speak the language
of the country I shall visit.

A lady of New York never leaves us. She is very frank and
active. She always speaks, in the presence of everybody, of the
work of the Sisters, and persuades all regarding the advantages
and benefits of our little Mission. Now I leave you with this
little news, though badly connected, which I have been able to
write between one wave and another. You must accompany me
always with the practice of the most beautiful virtues, and
especially of those you know I desire from each of you.

May Jesus bless you and enclose you in His beautiful Heart,
where we shall find a true Paradise on earth, and may He make
you always most fervent in spirit, in the perfect abnegation of
yourselves, and in the detachment from all creatures and from
all pleasures.

The Sisters salute you dearly.

Your Affectionate Mother in the SS. C. J.,

Frances Saverio Cabrini.

CHAPTER II

yorh to 3Kc
, i8go

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

avre

My beloved Daughters,

Peace be with you and accompany you
always and everywhere.

August 17th, 1890. Having lost the previous night’s sleep,
yesterday I was unable to work, but to-day I feel better, so I can
entertain myself a little with you. My companions of the voyage
make up their minds and agree with me to resign themselves
willingly to suffer sea-sickness. Ann is always tranquil and quiet,
Elizabeth feels cold and tries to keep well clothed. It is true the
weather is cold just like an April morning, but the air is pure and
it is a pleasure to breathe it. It is healthy and inspires sublime
thoughts, just as a celestial ray would surround us and raise our
minds to that God, so good, so dear, and so great. He has made so
many beautiful things for us, poor creatures, the work of His
omnipotent Hand. The sea continues calm and wonderfully
tranquil. It seems to reflect the peace and the features of a soul
adorned with sanctifying grace, which communicates to that soul
interior peace and joy. From time to time birds come to cheer
us. They look like swallows, but I think they are sea-birds.
Last night I slept very well, just as though I was in my cell. I
dreamt that I received Holy Communion. It is almost impossible
to receive Holy Communion here at sea, and to-day, especially, I
miss it very much, because I heard yesterday (to my great dis¬
pleasure) there would be a religious service held by a Protestant
minister. But, thank God, it is now near mid-day, and no one
has mentioned it.

I8//1 August. I have nothing new to tell you, because the sea
keeps so calm. It is as smooth as a table, and if we raised our
eyes, we could scarcely believe that the ship is going so rapidly.

15

16

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

I don’t feel ill, but I am not well, and I have no desire to do any¬
thing. Nevertheless I am in the happy position of being able to
meditate freely. This is a great advantage for me, because I am
able to pass the time conversing with the sweet Spouse of my soul.
Oh, if everyone had the knowledge of the great and beautiful
advantages of meditation and of speaking familiarly with Jesus, if
they could experience these heavenly joys, they would certainly
envy our happy life (or state). Instead, how many poor creatures
are there who do not want to know Him, in order to follow their
own passions more freely, blinded by the smoke of the false
pleasures of the world! In these circumstances, and at the sight
of so many miserable and unfortunate creatures, how much better
we are able to understand the great grace that God has given us
by calling us to His Divine Service, or, to express it more accurate¬
ly, to His love. Let us love Jesus, then, my daughters, let us love
Him very much. Jesus has ready for us many other graces, but
He is waiting to be loved by us more and more, in order to grant
these graces to us. On one occasion He said to one of His faithful
servants, that if he could find souls who would love Him, as Saint
Francis of Assisi did. He would give as many graces as He
bestowed upon that Saint, and even greater ones. Indeed, it is
true. Let us confess it. If graces do not descend upon us, it is
because of our little love of God, which keeps them back from us.
And we shall never get a true love for God unless we try to over¬
come our self-love and the attachment to ourselves and our own
judgment. This morning I petted a dog to please a lady, in
order that, after gaining her friendship, I might speak to her of
our Holy Religion. She is a Protestant; I have already had a
few words with her, but I find she is very much attached to
her false religion.

\9th August. The sea continues to be extraordinarily tranquil.
All say they have never seen it so calm. If there were a little
movement, there would be something new to tell you. The compli¬
ment I paid to the dog yesterday has had a good effect. The
lady has been pleased to come to me and to discuss at length our
Holy Religion. Naturally, she tries to maintain her own opinions,
but now she doubts whether we can make satisfaction for our sins
in this world. I would like to be a little more instructed in order

17

Nezv York to Havre — August, 1890

to explain the truths of our Holy Religion more clearly, and so be
to her a real missionary, but what I cannot do myself will be done
by our good Sisters at Rome, where this lady is going to pass the
winter, and she will go to see them. For this purpose she has
asked me for their address. I would like to convert all Protes¬
tants. This is a mission I have very much at heart, and you,
my dear daughters, by the duties of your holy vocation, find
yourselves engaged in this sublime mission of converting souls.
Do attend to it with great zeal and fervour, and try to multiply
the grapes of the mystic vine of Christ. You should use every
possible means and skill in order to succeed in converting souls,
and be certain you will never be wanting in means and knowledge
if you love your Celestial Spouse, because the love of Jesus suggests
a thousand ways we may use for the interests of His glory. Oh!
how beautiful is the hymn of that fortunate spouse who can say,
Jesus loves me, and I love Him! He is the only object of my
thoughts. I have printed Him on my hands and in the deepest
recess of my heart.'' Be wise, then, daughters. Let us please
Jesus by doing more good for His mystic members, the souls
redeemed by His great sufferings and death.

August 20th, The sight of the sea is really enchanting, one can
scarcely believe one’s senses. The passengers say that this is due
to the merits of the Sisters; and it may be so because there are
seven ladies of the Sacred Heart on board who are very good
indeed. They are going to their Mother House in Paris to prepare
for their Profession. Thus you may imagine with what holy
sentiments they are animated and what beautiful souls they are.
It is rather cool now, and we are surrounded by a temperate
atmosphere which speaks to us of the great goodness and munifi¬
cence of our good and great Almighty God. From the stern of
the ship we can see a rainbow which is continually reflecting on
the waves, now large, now small. I often go up there to breathe
the pure air. This morning I saw marvellous fishes of many
colours joyfully basking in the sea, just as our souls should bask
in the grace of God. The Protestant lady never leaves us. She
likes to stay with us. To-day I made her a present of a small
cross, on which may be seen the picture of Our Lady. She
thanked me so much for this cross, and said to me, 'Tt may be
that one day I shall be a Catholic!” Oh, daughters, pray that

18

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

this may be so. How happy I should be if she entered the true
fold of Holy Church. She is a lady who has much influence, and
therefore how she would extend our Religion to many other souls.
Let us pray. By prayer we can obtain everything,

21st August. The weather continues to be calm. Last night
I saw something new and marvellous—the phosphorescence of the
sea. It looked like so many lanterns of a thousand colours on
the waves round the ship. Fireworks are insignificant in com¬
parison. These made by God are much superior. We were
admiring this wonderful spectacle with great pleasure until eleven
p.m., and this morning at six o’clock I was at the stern of the
ship making my meditation surrounded by the pure fresh air,
which strengthens and helps me much to make a beautiful medita¬
tion on the happy and fortunate life of those souls to whom God
has given the grace of a Religious Vocation, as He has bestowed
on me, notwithstanding my many infidelities and unworthiness.
The same grace has also been granted to you, calling you to the
mystic garden of the Mission of His Divine Heart. What good
has He seen in us, oh, daughters! The amiable Jesus has granted
us such a precious grace in preference to so many other beautiful
souls, who we know would have corresponded much better to
this grace than we have. Oh, let us animate ourselves and inflame
our hearts with holy ardour and fervour in the faithful and labo¬
rious service of our beloved Jesus. Let us love Him very much.
Let us strive to enkindle His holy love in all hearts that surround
us. Let us offer ourselves as victims for the conversion of infidels
and sinners who do not know or love our dearest Lord. Oh, Love
is not loved, my daughters! Love is not loved! And how can
we remain cold, indifferent and almost without heart at this
thought? How can we forget ourselves in folly and nonsense?
How can we put a limit to our affection and to our energy when
we consider the interests of Jesus? We are Missionaries, my
daughters, we are Missionaries of the Divine Heart. If, then, we
do not burn with love, we do not deserve to bear the beautiful
title which ennobles us, elevates us, makes us great, and even a
spectacle to the angels in Heaven.

August 2\st. At last we can perceive a little motion of the

New York to Havre — August, 1890

19

sea, but very little, only enough to break the monotony of the
past days. Every day we have sailed from 387 to 403 miles,
and so to-morrow night we are sure to arrive at Havre. How
glad we are that on Sunday next we shall be able to satisfy the
holy precept of hearing Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion
in thanksgiving for a safe voyage, and to obtain always greater
graces which will help us to serve our dearest Lord more fervently
and to procure for Him greater glory. Now I begin to realize
that I am far from you. Until now I could not persuade myself
of the fact. I can see now the great distance that separates us.
I am sorry I shall not be able to address you any more, not for
one day, nor for twenty, and, in case of necessity, to comfort,
console and even correct you, for I know that you even love my
scolding, as you are inflamed with the great desire of advancing
in perfection, so as to be more dear to that sweet Jesus, Who
loves us so much, and in return for all He has done and suffered
for us. Yes! in the Adorable Heart of Jesus I can always find
you, with the same lively sentiments as though you were present.
Go often, my dearest daughters, place yourselves at the feet of
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Behold that Divine Heart! He
is our comfort, our way and our life. Listen to Him with great
faith and devotion. He will tell you all that I desire from you.
He will tell you how I love to have you pure, immaculate, very
humble, charitable, fervent, detached from all the follies of this
world, and, above all, from your own judgment and self-love.
He will tell you also how I desire you all to be full of zeal and
fervour for the conversion of souls. I will also see you often in
that Divine Heart. To Him I shall confide all your needs. I
will speak to Him of each one of you in particular. I know the
wants of each one of you. I will take a great interest in you
and keep you close to my heart. You may be certain of this.
Now I want you to pray very much for me, in order that I may
learn to serve more faithfully my beloved Jesus, Who is so
generous in granting His graces and blessings to His unworthy
and miserable servant. I recommend to you the Spiritual Exer¬
cises. As soon as the Archbishop returns, go and pay him a
visit for me, and give him my heartfelt homage, and tell him I
was so sorry I could not see him before my departure. I commend
myself to bis prayers.

20

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

August 22nd. Behold the last day of our voyage has arrived.
The sea is still very calm. It is a marvellous sight. From
time to time there is a little rocking, the effect of a gentle wind,
which one might say is playing with the ship. The ladies com¬
plain about it; instead, I enjoy it immensely. They go and
shut themselves up in the cabin. At five o’clock this morning,
or a little before, I was already on deck breathing the refreshing
air. In making my meditation this morning, I transported myself
in spirit among you to assist at the Holy Sacrifice and receive
Holy Communion. You are fortunate, for you have these treasures
in reality, but I only spiritually. I partook of your joy and
happiness. Oh, if we could only know how to appreciate the
great advantage of Holy Communion, how much greater would
be our fervour to receive It well. How much more merit also
we should gain, because in Holy Communion the same Jesus, the
Beloved Spouse of our souls, works in us for our sanctification.
He give thanks for us. He does all for us and for His glory. Have
faith, my daughters, have great faith, and perform all your spiritual
duties with that lively faith with which the Saints learned to
please Jesus and draw down upon themselves and those around
them very many and very great graces.

. August 23rd. I am at Havre, on the train for Paris, and so
I give you my greetings and leave you. Thank God for the
perfectly good voyage. I shall not remain in Paris for more than
two days. Pray much for me; may the good Jesus bless you
all, and each one in particular.

In the train at Havre, 23rd August, 1890,

Your Affectionate Mother in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Francesca Saverio Cabrini.

CHAPTER III

Siavre to Tlew york
er, i8gi

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

Paris, September 4th, 1891

My dearest Daughters,

May the grace of Jesus be with us all and enclose
us in His Divine Heart.

I never felt the bitterness of the separation so much as at this
time, my beloved daughters, when saying ” Au revoir in Heaven,’’
in the name of those of your Sisters who perhaps you may never
see again. It seemed to me I had said it also for myself, though
I don’t feel that I shall die yet. What human weakness! What
kind of missionary spirit is this, you will say to me. It is true;
you are right; no matter how great the distance that separates
us, we are always near to each other, because we are ever found
in the little space of this world, which to our small and narrow
minds sometimes seems so big. Oh! How I would have liked
you to have been with us when we went to visit Montmartre!
That grand temple which was erected despite the opposition of
the incredulous and of the Freemasons, and where stands con¬
spicuously on a large altar the statue of the Sacred Heart, with
His arms outstretched. On that day of His great goodness. He
seemed to address us in these words, 'T protect and guide you
with My hands from one sea to the other.” Yes, my daughters,
a small ray of faith clearly shows us the littleness of the world
when compared with God. Why should we give such importance
to the transitory things of this life, and allow ourselves to be
governed by that which we should despise? Oh, if we at least
begin to despise ourselves, what a great thing it would be for us!
We esteem and think too much of ourselves, and that is the reason

21

22

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

why we never resolve to overcome our many miseries and raise
ourselves to that pure sphere where the soul can easily receive
the impressions of the Holy Spirit, and see and judge all things
as they are in the light of faith! But, my daughters, if we were
always animated by the spirit of faith! I asked this grace of
Jesus while on our pilgrimage to Montmartre; I asked it for
myself and for you. I hope this will please you I

Our Divine Lord has blessed our voyage in an extraordinary
way. When we arrived at Modane we met kind persons who
had received orders by wire from the Gondrand Firm to help us.
They took charge of everything, and took great care of our luggage;
none of our trunks were opened, but simply marked. They
reserved for us a special compartment in the train, and we arrived
very comfortably at Paris in the evening. We enjoyed the sight
of the scenery of Savoia, and recalled to our minds the principal
events of the life of our Patron, Saint Francis de Sales. We felt
so moved, and became so inflamed with fervour, that some thought
they saw a relic in every spot, and even in the very waters that
the Saint once crossed. Sister Teresa, in her great simplicity,
was never tired of praising God for the beautiful inheritance left
to His children. I would wish that all my good Sisters had the
simplicity of this daughter, because it is not that of the foolish,
which is cursed by the Holy Ghost, but rather the simplicity that
proceeds from a pure and faithful soul, and which penetrates the
very goodness of God and rejoices in It. Oh, my daughters,
what an excellent thing is a pure soul detached from everything
and from self! She can bury herself in God, Who is the source
of all courage. Let us then become pure, simple, unpretentious,
raised above all created things. When we have achieved this,
we shall begin to realise that true happiness which has awaited
us this long time and is in store for us if we wish it.

Havre, September Sth, Saturday, We are on board at last. The
sea is beautifully calm and promises a good voyage. Even here
arrangements had been made for our arrival. Though it was
almost midnight, we had persons to meet us, while vehicles, small
and large, for ourselves and luggage, awaited us all in good order.
We are travelling under the patronage of Saint Aloysius, who is
certainly favouring us. In about half-an-hour everything was in

23

Havre to Nezv York — September, 1891

order. We found ourselves comfortably placed in our cabins just
as though we were assembled in the Convent. We slept during
the few hours that remained of the night, but at half-past five we
rose to go to Mass. Not knowing the streets, we were accom¬
panied by a servant to the Church of Saint Francis, and there at
the Altar of the Sacred Heart we had Mass, Communion and
Benediction. From there we were accompanied back to the
steamer, where breakfast was prepared for us, though we did not
expect it. About nine o’clock, the Superintendent of the Com¬
pany who resides at Havre, visited us and introduced us to the
Captain of the ship, asking him to allow us to go on the first-class
deck. This favour was granted to us. In an hour’s time we
were to start, and all the Sisters wanted to write to our Sisters
in Italy, but they were so enchanted with the beauty of the sea,
that I was the only one who found it possible to write a few lines.
This I did to those to whom I owe gratitude and who favoured
me with pecuniary and other help: that is, to our Monsignor
and Father, that he might give you news of ourselves, and also
to the Bishop of Lodi and Archbishop of Milan. But they were
only a few lines written very quickly, and I do not know if they
understood them, but they manifested my goodwill and the grati¬
tude I feel towards those who look kindly on our Institute, and
who assist it for the glory of Jesus and His Divine Heart. The
steamer setting sail, we were all on deck viewing this beautiful
port and watching the waving of handkerchiefs and hats. Presently
we were in the Channel, the Sisters all happy and feeling well, and
hoping that the whole of the voyage would pass off as smoothly
as this.

Sunday, September 6th, This morning all the Sisters woke up
very ill. Some of them thought they were going to die. Sister
Cherubina lost her speech. Sister Egidea was almost in convul¬
sions. All the others were sea-sick. It was a scene of perfect
desolation. I alone was able to go round and comfort some and
encourage others. Those who trusted in my words arose and
tried to eat, and presently were looking quite well. The others,
who thought that death was at hand, stayed in bed awaiting it
without opening their mouths the whole day. As for Sister Egidea,
not being able to find any remedy and not even the doctor, I had

24 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

to have recourse to one of my usual tactics, viz., a good scolding,
and immediately the convulsions disappeared. The effect was
such that I became ill myself, and had to be very careful. At
the start, seeing how nicely accommodated we were, we thought
we might be able to go through our spiritual exercises, but the
poor Sisters were not able to meditate. Sister Cherubina thought
she really was dying, and was not even able to say “My Jesus,
Mercy.'' They have become like little children. And if I had
to depend on them, in their present condition, I should lose all
courage myself, but I expect they will be much better to-morrow,
and trust they will be able to be on deck where they can enjoy
looking at the beautiful fish and other wonders of nature, which
elevate the soul, and enable it to meditate on the infinite power,
wisdom and goodness of God, Who created those things for our
delight and comfort. On deck, to-day, I have only the company of
Sister Agape, who is stronger than all, and Sister Mary Josephine,
who, being obedient, eats, and so spends the time nicely and
happily. They are followed by Sister Deomira and Sister Mary
Gesuina. Sister Salesia with great virtue goes about from one
cabin to the other continually, in order to spare me, but even
she is not feeling very well. Sister Stephen, after a great effort,
thought she would like to dress, but put her habit on the wrong
way and came on deck. We felt so sorry for her that we took
her back to her cabin.

Monday, September 7th. To-day all are feeling well, and can
at least get up and take some refreshment. The sea is beautifully
calm, and if it continues thus we shall be truly fortunate. The
head steward is very attentive to us, and sees that the stewards
do all they can for us and that we need nothing.

Tuesday, September 8th. A strong wind that throws the vessel
up and down, tells us that this day is going to be a great day, the
birth of Her who was to be the Mediator between God and man,
our loving Mother. It is a pity that of the five priests on board,
not one of them is able to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice. We
procured some altar breads when at Havre, but uselessly, so we
must satisfy at least spiritually the spark of divine love that is
in us, and absorb ourselves in contemplation of the great good

Havre to New York — September, 1891

25

that to-day comes to us through Mary. Mary is most holy, the
meek dove of God in this universal deluge of corruption which
frightens and depresses us. Mary with the flowery branch of the
olive appears in our midst and seeks to give us hope. Adorned
with that ineffable beauty of original innocence, she infuses in us
great confidence, and makes us feel sweetly that she will present
herself before God and obtain for us mercy and salvation.

What an admirable model we have in Mary. She is not yet
three years old, and yet she abandons father, mother, country
and friends, everything, indeed, and flies to God with the swift
wings of a dove. She takes refuge in the Temple, a figure of our
convents. She, this privileged Virgin, accomplishes, in the Temple
of God, all that from her birth she had vowed to God. Mary sees
herself rich in grace, fears nothing, and still she flees from' the
world and retires. Her profound humility is like a thick veil
which she uses to hide herself and her gifts. She seeks solitude
and silence, the solitary dove, because she desires to unite herself
intimately with Him Who is Her only love. Mary will certainly
have exclaimed, “How beautiful are Thy tabernacles!“ My
God, may all souls burn and languish for Thee! My spirit and
flesh are in Thee, O, my God, and my life! O, my God, Thou art
my inheritance. Thou art my glory, my joy, my crown! How
promptly Mary answered the Divine call, and we? How have
we corresponded with the call of God? How do we correspond
with the grace of God now? What is our virtue, our conduct?
What are our efforts, our generosity? Mary knew her mission,
and accomplished it. And what do we do? We also understand
what our mission is, obedience shows the way, but do we follow it
faithfully? Perhaps we allow ourselves to be carried away by
self-love, our corrupted nature, human respect, pride, tepidity.
O, daughters, do not lose time. Let us follow faithfully the
footsteps of Mary, our sweet Mother. Let us conquer ourselves,
cost what it may, and we shall have joy in our hearts and peace
in our souls! Let us strive, O daughters, to conquer ourselves,
and Mary will cover us with her mantle of virtues; then we shall
not feel any trouble in making our journey. Let humility, daugh¬
ters, humility and great charity, detachment from everything, from
ourselves, accompany us everywhere.

26

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Wednesday, September 9th. Yesterday, at eleven a.m., there arose
a great wind that caused the steamer to roll like Saint Peter's
boat. Some of the Sisters, frightened, asked me if it were a
storm. I told them that the sea was comparatively calm, and
that something greater was wanting to create a storm. At this
assurance they became quiet. The weather continued so the
whole day and before the evening the Sisters were quite tired of
the swaying; so we withdrew to a small place on deck near our
cabins, and there, rather than sit down, we threw ourselves on
the floor. We were alone, however, and it was pardonable,
though even if we had not wished to throw ourselves down, we
should have fallen. The place we occupied was quite near the
kitchen, where the Bursar and the Head Steward could see and
hear us and they were pleased to hear us praying, regarding this
as an augury of fine weather. Being the Feast of Our Lady, we
could not allow it to pass without some spiritual exercise. I had
been ill also, but, in comparison with the others, my indisposition
was nothing. I was, however, able to stay on deck in the fresh
air, and as no one spoke on account of the movement of the boat,
I was able to join you in spirit and celebrate the Feast of Mary
Bambina, the infant Mary. Prayer is a great comfort and works
truly. It is the life of the soul, though its effects are not always
visible. Of the many graces that proceed from prayer, some are
known to us and others not; but this does not prevent its enrich¬
ing our souls. All the glory of the King's daughter is within. Of
her preciously embroidered dress, of her immense riches, we see
but the fringe. In Heaven, prayer will be explained in all its
pomp and majesty. Pray, then, daughters, pray with unlimited
faith in every need, in every difficulty, and do not become weary
if in our short lives we do not see the effects of our prayers. Have
faith, lively faith, resting always assured that not one of our
supplications will be rejected. Oh, faith! how beautiful, great,
powerful! Faith produces hope, and prayer is at once the suppli¬
cating hope. ‘Tn te Domine speravi, non confundar in seternum."
Oh, hope of Heaven, thou obtainest so much when we think our
prayers obtain nothing, and when our hope seems a delusion. No,
our prayers are never in vain, but everything is disposed of by the
wisdom of the Omniscient God. Confide in God above all, hope,
and you will not be confounded. Repeat often, “In te," etc..

27

Havre to New York — September, 1891

and, saying it from your heart, open wide the wings of trustful
hope, rejoice in the Spirit, and live in holy joy. You, the elect
spouses of Jesus, the true friends of the Divine Heart! Be
assured that not one of your prayers will be in vain, for if the
Divine Heart cannot grant them, who can? May your joyful
countenances make those around you happy!

This morning the weather is not good, but all want to move
about, which is a sign of good weather. In fact, at nine a.m. a
calm prevailed which rejoiced all. The Sisters gathered round me,
asking me if it would continue, and I told them if they humbled
themselves profoundly for our involuntary sloth, God would give
us good weather and a calm sea. They obeyed, and now it is
almost evening, and the weather continues beautiful, and the
steamer is sailing at such a rate that we shall arrive in port by
Saturday. Oh, obedience, how dear to the Heart of Jesus!
Obedient souls delight His Heart Divine. They are His Kingdom,
His heaven. His glory. To them He communicates His lights.
His gifts. His graces, and often He admits them to His secrets.
On them He sheds the rays of His countenance, and renders them
perfectly happy in their state. Through obedience, Jesus
accomplishes His greatest designs and works on this earth. To
our dear Lord, these acts of His Spouses are more gratifying than a
thousand sacrifices made from caprice and one’s own will. Jesus
loves to stay with obedient Religious. He guides them with His
wisdom, fills them with His treasures and comforts them with His
abundant graces. Oh, happy obedience! Do love this virtue,
dear daughters, let it be your favourite. If you are obedient,
you will be true Missionaries, you will be blessed abundantly by
Jesus and you will save a great number of souls who await your
work. None of you should work from self-will. You should
have no thought contrary to obedience, but submit as so many
little lambs. This is the secret of obtaining peace, and of obtain¬
ing great graces and blessings for the Institute. Love virtue,
but obedience and humility above all, because with obedience
you have given what is yours to God. Be obedient and your
sacrifice will be entire, you will be true Spouses of Christ, you
will enjoy Heaven in anticipation. Do not have any will of your
own, and then you will not make your Superiors suffer. Why
-should you suffer for the devil ? Why should you make a purga-

28

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cahrini

tory for yourselves and make others suffer? Why lose peace
and make everything desolate on account of your own fancies and
caprices? Submit yourself to the sweet yoke of obedience and
you will become a haven of Christ, a haven of peace for all your
Sisters.

Thursday, September \0th. Last night the weather threatened
to break and the Sisters asked me if we were going to have good
weather, because if it were bad they had made up their minds
where to go and how to spend their time. I told them that if
we humbled ourselves profoundly for our faults, holding ourselves
to blame for all the acts of frailty that sea-sickness caused us to
commit, God would be propitious to us. At first some refused to
acknowledge that they were in fault, saying it was the sea that
caused so much discomfort, but remembering the promise they
had made of suffering willingly for the holy cause of the Mission,
they felt themselves obliged to humble themselves profoundly,
and our dear Jesus in the truly paternal goodness of His Heart
granted us good weather, and so we are all assembled on the first-
class deck. You see, humility works wonders. All expected bad
weather, and, instead, we have fine weather. Let us learn, dear
daughters, to become humble, because God loves the humble,
whilst He resists the proud. If we elevate ourselves through
pride, God will withdraw from us, with the result that we fall
into dense darkness. If we are humble. He will approach us,
console us and hear our prayer, and He will send us away justified.
No, daughters, God does not make the humble wait long. He
runs, flies to satisy their holy and most excellent desires. It
often happens that, drawn by a humble soul. He gives what He
has not been asked for. Be humble, daughters dear, the Sacred
Heart has prepared many graces in the abundance of His treasures
for the Institute. Be humble, His graces are hanging on a thread
only. If we are truly humble and simple, these graces will be
showered upon us. If we are proud, full of ourselves. He will
withdraw His graces. In vain shall we then ask—for He with¬
draws Himself from the proud and haughty.

But now we must return to the sea. How beautiful and majestic
it is in its immensity! It is as serene as a soul in peace with God
and its neighbour. The soul thus possessed is a model of peace.

29

Havre to New York — September^ 1891

though it is working hard all day, and appears to be burning with
an ardent fire, which spurs her on to holy action. The mild waves
of the sea reflect the rays of the sun in a wonderful manner, some¬
times like silver, sometimes like precious stones in many beautiful
colours. I should love the Sisters to suggest some appropriate
phrases depicting the beauty by which we are surrounded, but all
have lost the compass, and the knowledge they once seemed to
have has vanished.

Sister Mary Gesuina is very jolly and keeping quite happy.
She has recourse to '‘Santa Reparata,” and she does really make
amends, for Sister cut her finger very deeply the other day while
cutting bread for a poor German Sister, of another Institute, who
is travelling third-class in great poverty. As ailments at sea are
easily cured, so also the cuts of Sister were readily cured, and she
was very happy. Sister Mary Josephine cannot bear the big
waves, so when they rise she lies down and eats a piece of an apple,
thus quietly forgetting the sea. She would have described everything
beautifully, but finding it was more advantageous to remain quiet,
she says, "All who want to know about the sea, let them come
and see for themselves." Sister Agape is the captain of the sea:
she is here, there and everywhere, helping everyone. Sister Teresa
has remained two days in bed, so as not to see the Sisters suffering.
She thought she had lost her head and touched it to see if it were
still on her shoulders.

There is a professor of the University of Washington, a Mission¬
ary Apostolic, who inquires regularly about us, but the only com¬
plaint we have to make is that out of the five priests on board,
not one of them can give us Holy Communion. Every time we
come on deck we look for a place to be alone, but after a few
minutes we are surrounded by the ladies of the first-class deck,
who follow us with their chairs. They appear to be nice people,
and to like the Catholic Religion. The Captain and other pas¬
sengers are most anxious to make us comfortable. All delight
in seeing us happy and free from sickness. After all, happiness
follows us everywhere.

We are off the shores of Newfoundland, and the Sisters told
Sister Teresa that here she could gather some cabbages, so she
quickly dressed and came with her apron to get them to make
some Italian soup, as we are tired of the French bouillon. Some of

30

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

our Sisters who never usually think of food, do nothing else but
speak about it, not finding anything appetizing. Sister Agape and I
eat well—in fact, we are quite unmortified. We praise God for
all, whilst some suffer; some keep themselves up, and thus we
help keep up the ones who suffer.

To-day it was lovely and fine. Some of the Sisters wanted to
write, but, though the sea is calm and the movement is hardly
perceptible, still they dislike these slight rockings or swayings.
The first sea voyage is always a little difficult. When in three
weeks time we again embark for Central America, it will be easier.
If you could see the sea at this moment! It is an immense surface
of smoothness, and of an enchanting blue, so calm now. A fact
incredible after the stormy days we have experienced. One
hardly sees a lake so calm and placid. To-day everyone of us
joined in meditation on the gifts of a humble and pacified soul,
the beloved daughter of God. The sea is a lively image of her.
How immense and yet tranquil and quiet! A sea which can be
so turbulent, yet how submissive when subject to the command
of God omnipotent. Our dear Sisters continue to humble them¬
selves, seeing how it pleases our dear Lord. With humility we can
obtain immense graces, for humility moves the heart of God, and
this unexpected and extraordinary tranquillity of the sea is a great
grace. Oh, would that God were really appeased; let us no longer
offend Him. Do not arouse His wrath by infidelity to grace. Let us
trust in the help of our good God, for of ourselves we can do
nothing, not even can we pronounce with merit His adorable
name. Let us endeavour to be faithful to His holy help, through
the merits of Jesus Christ and with the help of His sweet powerful
Mother. May she cover us with her holy and spiritual mantle, and
make us worthy to serve our loving Spouse faithfully, and obtain
for us the graces we most need. God promised to help us, and He
does help us. We promised to serve Him, but we do not serve Him
with the perfection and energy demanded of us. At times we are
indolent, again we do not always have pure intentions, without
which we serve ourselves our self-love, vanity and creatures, but
not God. Do begin at last to serve faithfully our loving and faithful
Jesus.

31

Havre to Nezv York — September, 1891

September Wth, Friday. The weather is still fine, the sea is as
smooth as a table, the air light and invigorating. All the Sisters
are feeling well, and in this sweet calm all unanimously decided to
make their meditation, uniting themselves spiritually wdth the
Sisters in Italy, for at this very hour all the Sisters should be at
meditation, or, rather, at the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
One of us, who desired very much to be near the Tabernacle, saw
in a dream a great procession of Saints who were coming with the
Holy Eucharist to gratify her great desire. But, only a few days
longer, and we shall be able to receive our dear Lord in our little
chapel in 43rd Street, New York. He is the Beloved of our souls,
the Elect amongst thousands, Who consoles, comforts, strengthens,
vivifies and sanctifies us, freeing us from our miseries through His
infinite graces and unlimited goodness.

Last evening a Protestant minister gathered together as many
persons as he could of the first-class and held a meeting—what
the English call a conference—to collect money for the poor
sailors' children. It is really sad that so many follow the devil
and not Christ. We are so cowardly, that, whether it be from
human respect or some other motive, we fear to speak of Christ
in public. We see virtue derided, and w^e remain silent. Why
are we so cowardly? We should strengthen our faith in an
endeavour to imbue others with the spirit of Christ and to become
animated ourselves with the true charity of the Divine Heart,
and thus proclaim the truth. Do not be afraid of offending those
who approach us, or of being importunate when speaking the
truths of our faith. No, if we are filled with the sweet kind
charity of Christ, coupled with strength and energy, no one will
take offence but rather be conquered. Yes, if there is true charity,
the most Sacred Heart will be honoured. Sometimes a person
will not speak deliberately of our Holy Religion, but praises vice
rather than virtue, because such an one has lost his bearings,
but if it were possible to find one individual who, with the generous
charity and the sweetness of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, could
introduce the subject of our Faith gently, correct certain wrong
ideas, little by little such a good person would conquer that soul
and reunite it with that secure trunk of truth from which uncon¬
sciously it has become detached. If such a spirit is necessary
everywhere, what must be the necessity of it for those nations

32 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

who once were profoundly religious, and now, through pride,
ambition and a false sense of freedom, have allowed themselves
to be carried away and to do what they do not want to do.
People on board are already saying, ‘‘Why are these Missionaries
going to America, while in Europe there are worse despisers of
religion and faith?’' These words went to my very heart. If
I were not wounded by such expressions, I should not be a true
daughter of the Church nor would I have any love for my country.
Such expressions dishonour nations, which in olden times flourished
amidst true and profoundly religious sentiments.

Do begin, daughters, to humble yourselves, invest yourselves
with true, solid virtue, become fervent and true lovers of the
Sacred Heart, repairing ingratitude and making supplication for
ourselves and for our brethren who live in disastrous times, because
deprived of the Faith. Learn to humble and sacrifice yourselves,
but with a real sacrifice, accompanied by a true denial of your¬
selves. Let us sacrifice and immolate ourselves for our dear
brethren, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ; those who
through ignorance are losing the inheritance of the children of
God and making themselves unhappy for all eternity. Seek to
get them out of this precipice by sacrifice.

Saturday, September \2th. At last, with the aid of your fervent
prayers, we have arrived at the last day of our voyage. If you
could see the sea to-day, you would not believe it was the same
treacherous element which frightens so many. It does not seem
like the sea at all; it is so smooth, that the sun is reflected in it;
it is so placid, that one might conceive that the sea never moved.
I do not remember such good weather even last year, when I was
almost tired of the tranquillity of the sea because it was so calm.
Such fine weather is supposed to be the forerunner of a storm,
but before this arises we shall have already arrived in port, and
so our Sisters who are destined for Nicaragua will not be dis¬
couraged to undertake a new voyage. Seeing that prayers are
so efficacious in obtaining a prosperous voyage, I shall inform you
of our leaving for Nicaragua, so that you may obtain, by your
prayers and sacrifices, blessings for that voyage also.

We are going towards the region of heat which I cannot bear at
sea, but, with your prayers, why should I fear anything? And

33

Havre to New York — September, 1891

for a Missionary, however difficult the voyage, it is always on that
small plank that she must seek to extend the kingdom of love of
Jesus. Therefore another four thousand miles is very little after
all. You pray, and that will suffice. I will do the rest, giving
myself up to the Heart of Jesus, He Who is our Good, our All,
Our Preserver, our Master, Friend and Spouse. Pray, pray, O
daughters, and make generous sacrifices, and then you will
see how many graces the good Heart of Jesus will give you. All
the sisters are well, happy and contented. They are beginning
to like the sea, but perhaps this is because they are about to leave
it soon. Flowever, a Missionary must not attach herself to any-
thing, but must sacrifice herself and all her inclinations. Sister
Veronica sees now and then some very big fish. She thinks they
are whales and sharks. Sister Alacoque talks much of her mission
every night, particularly of the school and children. Sister
Gesuina makes every one happy. Sister Cherubina recovered her
speech two days ago. The sea made such an impression on her
at first, that she lost her speech and thought she would never be
strong again. She dislikes leaving the sea now. Sister Pia and
Sister Chiara having rested quietly in their cabins are now quite
bright and happy. Sister Diomira suffered much, but has always
been able to keep going. Sisters Pierina and Angelica and some
others are sunburnt, having spent a great deal of time on deck.
Sister Salesia has acted as infirmarian, assisted by Sister Agape.
Yesterday Sister Josephine began her description of the voyage
to send to her brother, but I am sending it first to you, so that
you may enjoy it, as I have not time myself to send you an account
of my own. All the Sisters ask me to thank you for your prayers.
They are far away in body, but not in spirit. As true daughters
of the Mother House, they are still very attached to it. All think
of you, and are exciting themselves to great virtue. On the
second day of the sea voyage the Sisters were feeling so bad that
they acted more like children than religious, which fact dis¬
heartened me so greatly that I almost repented of having chosen
such subjects for so difficult a mission, but I am happy now that
I did not disclose my feelings, for the Sisters at length are feeling
well and are really good, virtuous and sensible women quite
willing to undertake any arduous work, for which they will be
rewarded. They will be able to show themselves true daughters

34 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

of the Church by their true attachment and holy efforts to procure
the glory of God. Tm not sure of writing to you again before
we reach port, but I will write again from New York and from
Manresa, and hope to have much consoling news for you, more
so as we are celebrating the centenary of St. Aloysius, under whose
protection we are undertaking our work. This dear Saint has
always been powerful especially during this year of his centenary,
as we have experienced so fully.

The Sisters salute you affectionately and unite with you in
prayer, sacrifice and work in the Heart of Jesus and beneath the
mantle of Mary.

May the Grace of God be with you all.

Your affectionate Mother in the

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Frances Saverio Cabrini.

On the ocean,

IZth September, 1891.

CHAPTER IV

to l^icata^ucL

OctoLet. 1891

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

On the ocean,

Thursday, October ISth, 1892.

My very dear Daughters,

As you are well aware, from the account of my last voyage from
Europe to America, we reached New York on September 13th,
where our Sisters, with many good benevolent and affectionate
persons, awaited us with indescribable anxiety. The day follow¬
ing my arrival was the anniversary of my religious profession, a
dear and memorable day for me, and for all my good daughters,
who look upon whatever concerns me as theirs. We made a great
feast of it. We had two Masses, and a sermon by Father Bandini,
appropriate to the work of our Mission, treating of the solemnity
of the exaltation of the Holy Cross. In the evening Benediction
of the Blessed Sacrament was to have been given by His Grace
the Archbishop, as he so kindly promised, but, owing to his
manifold duties, he was obliged to delegate the Rector of the
parish in which our House of 43rd Street is situated. Monsignor
Brann, who was assisted by several priests who came to celebrate
our arrival. His Grace came to see us the next day, and, with
paternal kindness, consoled us greatly.

The following days I visited the various Houses of the Mission.
I went first to Manresa with the twenty-nine Sisters who came
here with me from Europe. All the Sisters were charmed with
the beauty of the villa, which is situated on one of the best sites of
the Hudson River. The order and the tranquillity of the House
pleased them still more. The chapel annexed to it inspires one

35

36

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

with great devotion and recollection, and invites us to that kind
of contemplation which makes us feel vividly the Divine Goodness
of our Celestial Spouse, and makes us understand deeply His will,
infusing into us the courage necessary to fulfil it faithfully. Every
time I find myself at Manresa I think that, perhaps, when I have
worked sufficiently for the Institute, this will be the place of my
retreat to prepare myself for my journey to eternity. But this
is an illusive dream, a childish feeling. Let us leave to Providence
all thought of our future. Let us work, day by day, in the Lord's
vineyard, seeking the greater glory of God, in perfect detachment
from everything, which is of very great importance to ourselves,
for often without our knowing it, we are the enemies of our own
souls, troubling ourselves about many things, whilst “Porro unum
est necessarium.” Most of the Sisters remained for some days at
Manresa in order to have a rest.

The 21st September came as a dear and moving feast. Seven
of our American postulants, who for a year had given excellent
proof of their good spirit, were preparing to put off the white
veil of the Postulant in order to take the Habit of the Institute.
His Grace came to see us again and, vested in his ceremonial robes,
to give them the Veil (or the Holy Habit). He performed the
ceremony according to our ritual with impressive decorum and
devotion. He gave an impressive allocution, and his sweet
paternal words sank deeply into the heart of each Religious. To
you, who, like me, have often assisted at these beautiful and ever
new ceremonies, it is needless to speak of the lively sentiments
they arouse in all, or to tell you that we spent a happy and
heavenly day in community. Even His Grace, in congratulating
us afterwards, said that the ceremony was always as impressive
as if it were being performed for the first time. In spite of all
I had to do before my departure, the time flew without my
realising it, and without a day's rest.

The 10th of October arrived in haste, and everything was ready
for the continuation of the voyage. The state rooms were visited
and the places destined for the Sisters prepared for them. On
the eve of our departure, the Archbishop, who is most kind and
shows so much affection for our Institute, came again to console
us with his presence, and to comfort and encourage us on the new
journey that awaits us. He gave us one of those heartfelt sermons

New York to Nicaragua — October, 1891

37

which sink deeply into the soul, and then gave Benediction of the
Blessed Sacrament, which was preceded by the “Ave Maris Stella’'
and ‘‘Tantum Ergo,” and sung with great fervour by the Sisters
who were leaving. This was followed by a prayer to Our Lady.
His Grace afterwards entertained us very kindly, and his holy
words were a source of great comfort, whilst he assured us that
he would pray for us every day during the voyage so that Our
Lady and the Angels might accompany us. His secretary, Mon¬
signor McDonnell, assured us also of his most fervent prayers and
wishes for a prosperous voyage, and hoped it would be perfectly
happy. During the same day, till late in the evening, many good
and pious persons came to say good-bye and to wish us a successful
voyage. Even the next day some came on board the steamer to
pay their compliments and express kind wishes for our journey.

But while we were talking with great animation, the hour of
departure arrived. At ten a.m. we were on board the steamer
which is called the New York, of the Pacific Mail Line. The agent
was very good and assigned a state room for every two Sisters
and a separate one for me. The berths are not so small as
those of the Transatlantic steamers, but rather large and com¬
fortable. The state rooms open into the parlour salons, so that
the Sisters can go from their berths to the lounge room without
danger of falling, even when it is rough and stormy, for we do not
expect this voyage to be as smooth and as beautiful as the last,
seeing that we are dealing with a new Mission which needs great
graces and therefore new sacrifices to render us more worthy of it.
The Sisters were accompanied by many kind persons. A distin¬
guished and excellent Irishman presented us, and warmly recom¬
mended us, to the Captain.

At one p.m. the anchor was raised and we glided slowly out of
the port, while the Sisters and friends waved their handkerchiefs.
We also did the same for about a quarter of an hour, until the
distance made Sisters and things imperceptible, and, as the steamer
steered further down the bay, we lost sight of everyone and found
ourselves abandoned to the relentless waves. Till evening we
coasted along the shore, which we should have done all night, I
believe, had not a terrific storm arisen which threatened to dash
the boat and all it contained to pieces. At one moment the boat
rolled from side to side with such force as to threaten to capsize.

38

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cahrini

The Sisters could hardly keep in their berths. I arose and dressed
in haste to save them all, hoping at least to die together. Our
iuggage rolled about in all directions, like so many animated
objects. There was nothing to stop it. No one could keep
still, not even if seated on the floor. The sea swelled in an extraor¬
dinary way. The waves formed mountains as if by magic—
one could see, as it were, deep valleys between them. The
steamer seemed lost amidst these mountainous precipices of water.
The wind worked havoc on deck, and threatened to split the
cabins, but limited its caprice to the doctor's only. The following
day the poor doctor had to wear somebody else's clothes, his own
having been drenched and ruined. The Captain had all the sailors
and staff at work as a last resource to save all on the boat, and he
only succeeded by steering the vessel towards mid-ocean and
sailing across it for more than a day. In the meantime the sea
became calm, and then we were able to resume the ship’s proper
route, from which we had only sailed forty miles. But, God be
praised! For during the terrible storm, as the Captain told us,
no one was lost or hurt. During this tempest not one of the
Sisters was frightened, all remained quietly in bed, ready to perish
quietly, but under the bed-clothes. I stayed up all night in the
state room, from which I could see the Sisters resting, and thus
we mutually encouraged one another. I was attentive, however,
to every movement, for, if there had been any danger, they would
have been obliged to dress and try to save themselves when called
upon. In the meantime I was praying to Our Lady of the Holy
Rosary, in whose month we were voyaging. Then I lighted the
candle of Our Lady of Loretto, so efficacious against sea storms,
and our Most Holy Mother did really come to our aid, delivering
us from the extreme danger which surrounded us I

Oh, how good is Mary! How sweet and amiable. The earth
is full of her goodness. All the centuries have witnessed the
wonderful and merciful works of her blessed hands. Do we not
frequently experience how she evidently loves and protects us?
Like a mother full of compassion for each one of us, she pitied us
who, in our danger, invoked her with faith. Oh, what joy to be
children of such a Mother! We shall always recall the wonders
of her love! We then prayed to Saint Aloysius to send Angels
from Heaven to save us from the dangers we thought to be

39

New York to Nicaragua — October, 1891

imminent, and he, having compassion on us, who undertake all
our works in honour of his centenary, sent us immediate aid, and
now we enjoy a very quiet, calm and smooth sea. Yesterday
the sea looked like a soul, agitated by remorse and pride, who
never finds peace with God.

To-day is the 15th of October, the Feast of Saint Theresa, and
this Saint, who had sufferings of all kinds and had long and painful
experiences, has obtained for us a most beautiful day: a clear
sky, a vast horizon and a pure gentle breeze. One could imagine
that we were at Heaven’s gates, from whence emanates a sweet
comfort to enable us, as it were, to partake of the grand and
beautiful feast which Jesus gives His Beloved Spouse. There is
no priest on board, so no Mass, but we have been able to com¬
municate spiritually with great faith. That fortunate prisoner
had reason to rejoice at the thought that she once held Jesus in
her heart, and entering, as it were, into the Mystical Tabernacle
of her Soul, rejoiced as if she really held her Beloved. We,
happier still, have received Him many times, and it is only five
days ago that our hearts beat together with His, and that He
worked with us and was given to us as Holy Viaticum. To-day,
then, it was not difficult to draw ourselves around Jesus in order
that He might charm our hearts, as He once pierced the heart of
the Seraph of Carmel.

To-day we shall meet a steamer which will take our letters, so
I shall write a few lines to New York and Italy, and so contradict
as soon as possible those rumours which have led you to believe
we all perished in the storm. The danger was indeed real, but
we were all calm, tranquil and safe, trusting in our Jesus and the
Mission to which He Himself was conducting us in the company
of the Most Blessed Virgin and Saint Aloysius, patron of the new
foundation. It is evident that we are advancing with great
strides toward the torrid zone, though we have not yet reached
it. Though we were obliged to put on lighter clothes, we still
feel the heat greatly. The breeze, however, is refreshing and
comforting.

Yesterday, October 15th, we expected to meet a steamer which
would take on our letters, but the whole day passed without one
coming in sight. This morning at seven o’clock we sighted a

40 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cahrini

little island, called '‘Fortune Island,’' whence came a tug-boat
called Columbus to take the mail.

After some days on the high seas and, moreover, after experi¬
encing so many dangers, it was a great joy to see land, and we
saluted the island with great pleasure. The Captain, always so
good and kind to us, gave us a good position in order that we
might have a fine view. I strained my eyes to discover all over
that island some steeple, so as to salute with double fervour Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament, for it was Friday, and at this hour all
our Sisters were making their Hour of Adoration. O, you dear
daughters, so fortunate to be so near the Living Centre of life.
Blessed are you who feel His Heart beat, who hear His ardent
words which fill you with great strength and instil into you a
powerful realisation of the necessity to correspond with the Love
of our Beloved Giver. Therefore, give love for love by the
practice of your holy resolutions, which you have made to be
generous in sacrifice for the glory of God, by controlling yourselves,
always humbling yourselves with all your might, and loving, with
true affection, humiliations; by being obedient till death, seeking
the perfection of obedience, even to the extent of being so careful
as to avoid the slightest transgressions of the orders of your
Superior, who speaks to you in the name of God; by being
charitable, self-sacrificing, willingly abandoning all your own
inclinations in order to make others feel easy, especially your
Sisters; seeking to give consolation to your Superiors by perfect
renunciation of your will, which you left at the door of the Convent,
while, with the cross, you entered saying, “I bring peace, I come
to offer sacrifice to the Lord.” Oh, yes, my daughters, create
peace, sacrificing yourselves always, and never be the cause of
sorrow to your Superiors, thrusting thorns into their hearts by
your conduct, by your own ideas, which, however lovely they
may appear to you, are but branches of a poisonous self-love.
The more you are attached to them, the more poisonous they are
to you.

Renounce yourselves entirely if you wish to enjoy peace, and
let those who are around you partake of your joy, and thus also
have the desire, when occasion arises, of co-operating for the
salvation of souls. Since I started writing, we have sailed a very
great distance and have reached another island called Castel,

Nezv York to Nicaragua — October, 1891

41

and we, just as fortunate as you, were able to salute Jesus in the
Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, attracting Him to us with
the most fervent Spiritual Communion. This morning, October
17th, at five a.m., we entered the Caribbean Sea, after having
passed the island of Saint Dominic, which we were not able to
see owing to the darkness. We were told that this sea is always
very rough and stormy, but the Good God deigned to show us that
He is the Master of Land and Sea and that all the elements are
subject to His Omnipotent Hand, and so He gave us the storm
where all expected the calm, and gave us the calm when we ex¬
pected the storm.

To-day is the Feast of one of our most powerful patrons,
Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque, and she, surely, in her ineffable
enjoyment of the Divine Heart, has obtained for us a drop of that
celestial and sublime dew, and calmed the sea through which we
are now passing. She has changed the sky to another hue, clear
and blue, smooth and beautiful, in which fly gracefully a number
of very white birds, which look like Angels descending to tell us,
in their mute but eloquent language, of the feast being celebrated
in honour of that stainless Marguerite, purpled by the flaming
rays of Charity which burn in the Heart of Jesus. What a marvel
of grace God has wrought in the heart of His beloved! Let us
also be faithful to the operations of the Holy Spirit in our souls!
Let our minds be pure, disinterested, humble, pliant, and then
we shall see what beautiful and wonderful things the Holy Ghost
will work in our souls. Even the Angelic Spirits would fall into
an ecstasy of wonder at the marvelous workings of the Holy Spirit.
It is a work worthy of the Infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God.
This Spirit works within us, inspires us, instructs us, encourages
us, and comforts us with His abundant and perennial lights, with
His promptings and impulses in every holy work. Finally, He
surrounds us with loving solicitude in keeping us within the
enclosure of His eternal and infinite love.

Let us seek the right and sure path of perfection, encouraging
ourselves in true Charity towards God and towards our neighbour.
The one should never be separated from the other. We should
endeavour to attract to the Sacred Heart all those who approach
us; that is the object of the life of the Missionary, the Spouse of
Jesus Christ. Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque saw beautifully

42

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

engraved in the most Sacred Heart of Jesus the names of those
who sought to make It known, and the Divine Heart made known
to her that these should never be blotted out. The fire of His
love is great and wants to spread, and those souls who endeavour
to extend It are loved in a very special manner and filled with
celestial graces. Which one of us would not like to be that soul?
Otherwise we should be like the foolish Virgins, who, for want of
reflection, became unworthy of seeing their Spouse and entering
with Him into the marriage feast. Let us always have our lamps
burning, never weary, and, as soon as we see our oil is diminishing,
let us go to the Fountain of Life with profound humility to renew
ourselves and to gain new courage. Little time remains, so let
us hurry and work, for the reward is already prepared, and will
be in the measure that we have prepared it. Jesus is with us.
We can do all things with Him. By ourselves we fall, but with
God all things are possible.

All the Sisters are feeling well, and are on deck, and whilst
they admire the work of the Omnipotent and the immensity of
God, they implore graces and blessings on the land that they
see. Last evening we passed Cuba.

I have not told you of our pretty invention to keep the sea good,
and even to make it more attractive and quiet. At night I beg
the Sisters to make big acts of humility, acknowledging our misery.
This is very easy, when we live up to the truth and do not delude
ourselves, and with this kind of humble supplication we obtain
the grace of seeing the sea spread out like a beautiful blue cloth,
slightly creased, but brilliant with beautiful colours, creating a
charm with which diamonds, gems and precious stones are not
to be compared.

Oh, humility, how powerful and beautiful thou art! Do, my
daughters, be humble of intellect and thought, as true Religious
placed in the school of perfection should be. Have an abject
opinion of yourselves. Let each one consider herself the least of
all the Sisters and she the only one unworthy to live with the
Spouses of Christ, the Beloved of His Most Sacred Heart. Be
grateful of God’s mercies, for gratitude is the noble sentiment of
humble souls. Be humble, therefore, and always truly so, loving
to be held of no account, unnoticed, forgotten, ill-treated, despised
and calumniated; even in such cases one should remain calm,

Nezv York to Nicaragua — October, 1891

43

resigned and contented, as in a garden of flowers. Prefer to obey
rather than to command. When you are corrected, do not justify
yourselves, never say, “I speak because I have reason to do so.’*
Keep silent and practise virtue whether you are right or wrong,
otherwise we may dream of perfection, but we shall never reach it.

With humility, you will increase in grace and virtue, the serenity
of the Angels will shine upon your faces, you will not be dis¬
couraged in adversity nor elated in prosperity. Your only thought
will be to please Jesus in everything, and then you will be like
those pure white doves, beautiful and lovely in the sight of God.
Your voice will be sweet to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, your prayer
will be as perfume in the sight of the Most High, your life will be
as a burning lamp in the Community; in fine, your death will
be that of the Just, with an immense trust in Him Whom you

have imitated, and Who is your All and the Centre of your

aspirations.

Now, I must tell you how the Feast of Blessed Margaret Mary
Alacoque, our greatest Patroness, ended. At four p.m. a bell

rang long and loud, and the staff appeared in great hurry. The

sailors were running here and there. It was a fire alarm. In
less time than it takes to tell, everyone was ready with a life
preserver to jump into the sea in case of danger, but carefully,
for, as the Captain says, this sea is full of sharks which are
seen very frequently. Men were employed in lowering the
lifeboats. It was a fine sight to behold, for a dear old lady, who
always bestows on us so much attention, told us it was only a
fire drill carried out occasionally to keep the staff efficient in the
event of a fire really happening. May God spare us such a
catastrophe!

At six p.m. we went as usual to dinner, when several people,
accompanied by a Colonel from Guatemala, addressed us, saying
they were going to give a concert in honour of the Captain, and
hoped that we would take part in it also. We hesitated to give
our consent, not being accustomed to this sort of thing, but,
remembering that we were in very refined company, and that,
after Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, we owed the safety of our
lives to the brave and valiant Captain, we yielded, begging the
Colonel to put our names at the beginning of the programme, so
that as soon as we did our part we could retire. This was

44

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

graciously accepted, and half-an-hour after we found ourselves in
the first-class salon, where we read an address which was
graciously applauded, and then we returned on deck, leaving the
other passengers to finish their entertainment, which was really
very nice and sensibly arranged. But, after all, they were not
satisfied. The Colonel came on deck accompanied by the Doctor
and other persons and begged us to sing some of the little hymns
they heard us sing a few days before. So we sang, in chorus,
*‘Gesu mio ver conforto’* (‘‘Jesus, my true comfort’') and then
“Maria, che dolci afYetti” (“Mary, what sweet affection”), and
our voices, blending with the sound of the waves, were raised to
Heaven, while the listeners’ faces brightened up with a new
pleasure, which, perhaps, some never enjoyed before. It was
Jesus and Mary who were passing their celestial rays over these
souls, for whom we were secretly praying that they might be given
the precious gift of faith. The Captain, not knowing how to
show his gratitude, invited us to go on his bridge. He showed
us his tri-coloured lantern—white, green and red—which is used
to avoid collisions, his compass and other nautical instruments,
and the plumb-line for measuring. The Captain told us the
Caribbean sea is a mile deep, and that the sea near Nicaragua
has no known depth, for no one has been able to fathom it. I
hope I shall return to you, however, without having to measure
such a profound depth. We also saw the Captain’s bed, which
is a sort of hammock with a small mattress, suspended from the
ceiling of his cabin. But very little rest can the poor man have
if the weather is not fine, as he is responsible for all lives on deck,
for which he is, indeed, most anxious and careful.

Yesterday, 19th, at seven a.m. we arrived at Colon, a port which
has the reputation of being very unhealthy and a place of yellow
fever. For us, however, it turned out very pleasant; the air,
which for the last few days had become cool, contrary to every
law of nature, became still cooler as we arrived in the harbour.
So whilst we enjoyed a cool sea breeze, we contemplated for the
first time a forest of palms which surrounded the bay and made
it a charming sight. The railway was quite near the steamer,
but the Captain would not allow us to leave the ship until every
thing was ready for our departure, which was at one-thirty p.m.
So w’e had no difficulty in seeking shelter and food. When the

New York to Nicaragua — October, 1891

45

signal was given, he had our luggage put on rail free of charge,
thanks to the kindly thought of the Bursar, who also favoured us
greatly. When we were all in the train, the Captain, accompanied
by all the officers, came to bid us good-bye, and told us to keep
well and assured us we would have a pleasant voyage up the Pacific.

Even the staff came to say good-bye. One would think we
were leaving our own families, but while one was pleased at such
an exhibition of kindness, neverthless, it made one feel sad to
leave such genial people, among whom it seemed we could do so
much good. God, however, wants us elsewhere, and so, after the
signal was given for the departure, we find ourselves flying across
the Isthmus of Panama, traversing a forest of palms, and then
through a country where nature is immense in vegetation. There
are immense stretches of cocoa-nuts, royal palms, bananas, bread-
trees, tamarinds noted for their beautiful tiny leaves, and another
tree called in Spanish ‘‘Asquiera,'’ from the roots of which a
peculiar kind of flour can be extracted. There are thousands of
other trees displaying fruits and leaves which are a source of great
wonder. I must say I really saw this time something new which
interested me greatly, for up to now I only knew of these wonders
through the annals of the propagation of the Faith. We thought
we were in India or in China, especially as the train passed through
villages of wooden or thatched huts, inhabited principally by
Chinese emigrants and negroes. The further we go, the happier I
feel in being out here: these are real missionary spots. It is true
we have been sent to an uncivilised country, but I hope it will be
the stepping stone for a large foundation, from which we may go
forth from time to time to bring the knowledge of Christ and His
Most Holy Laws in those lands where the Missionary has not yet
reached. In fact, we see no churches, and if we see anything of the
kind, they are only pagodas or Protestant churches. The sight of
this spiritual misery filled our hearts with zeal, though for the
moment we can do nothing but pray for these, our unfortunate
brethren, dwelling in the darkness. As we can do nothing else, we
say our Rosary and recommend these souls to the Great Mother,
who, by the mouth of the Church, says to herself, ‘‘Quasi palma
exaltata sum in Cades et quasi plantatio rosse in Jerico.*' Let the
Blessed Virgin be honoured in these countries of palms and flowers,
which are an image of her, and may there be a perfect and complete

46

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

conversion of all these souls. To obtain this, we trust to your
prayers, dear daughters. Pray, pray much without ceasing, and
make your prayers efficacious by sacrifice, which you can practise
hourly by a perfect observance of the Rule which imposes certain
acts of self-denial, and to which I invite all, for Jesus wishes this
of you.

But we have been two hours and a half crossing the Isthmus,
and we have not arrived at the City of Panama, situated on the
Pacific, which ocean extends in front of us with a calmness worthy
of its name. Here the boat awaits us, and we are the first to
board it, whilst the person to whom we were recommended by
the Captain, carried our luggage. It was very soon filled with
passengers who were going our way, and we were then transferred
to the steamer, St, Bias, which awaited us in the bay, and which
could not come close to the shore owing to the large number of
shoals to be found there. We went on board two hours before
dark, expecting to continue our voyage at once, but, when we
got there, we had to make a day’s stay, which eventually turned
out to be one of two very long days. But even then Our Divine
Lord remembered His own, because in Panama there is danger of
yellow fever, and He thus placed us on the sea to enjoy the sea-
breeze for two days. We would love to run at once to our Mission,
but Our Lord wants us to have two days delay. We must take this
rest in peace.

After ten days fast from Holy Communion, we had an ardent
desire to approach the Centre of Life. Our desire was about to be
realised, for now we see a little rowing boat coming towards us
which we hired and in which we rowed to the shore. It was my first
experience in a rowing boat, and I assure you I felt frightened
indeed to find myself so close to the waters of the largest ocean,
especially as the little craft seemed about to capsize every time a
passenger stepped into it; but the object of our trip enlivened my
faith, and I encouraged the others to follow. In a few minutes we
were rapidly making our trip of two miles to the City of Panama,
singing hymns in preparation for Holy Communion. At the sound
of our voices a flight of birds approached, and accompanied us to
the shore. .In the Cathedral we were able to satisfy our desire—
Jesus came to live in us, to co-operate with us, to unite Himself
with us. We went to the Bishop’s house, but the Bishop was

New York to Nicaragua — October, 1891

47

absent and we were received by his secretary. It was about ten
o’clock when we got back to our boat, and, as at this time the
sea was at low-tide, we had to walk half-a-mile over the long beach
in order to get to our boat. We could therefore admire the beauti¬
ful stones, many of very fine marble, which the salty sea usually
covers. We amused ourselves by gathering shells of all colours
and sizes.

Then once more w’e rowed amidst the waves, singing hymns of
thanksgiving. Here again the birds hover over us, drawn there
either by the hoarseness or sweetness of our voices, to adore and
praise their Creator Whom we carried in our hearts as in living
Tabernacles. Some of the Sisters wanted to know what this
procession meant, and I replied that they represented the Religious
of those countries who might enter our Institute some day, but
one of the Sisters was not convinced of my interpretation, and
answered, “They rather (as the birds were about a thousand in
number) represent the souls that shall be saved by us.” I still
argued, when another flight of other aquatic birds appeared, a
thousand or more, and eventually we decided that they repre¬
sented the souls which were to be saved by us in the course of
time. Nevertheless, it was a sight I had never beheld before in
the five voyages I had already made.

We arrived on board amid the joyful exclamations of all the
passengers, who feel for us as if we were of their own. Some
of them for fun had tried to frighten us, saying we should never
reach the shore, especially as we were hidden from view by a
shower which fell near the steamer while we were crossing. The
shower only threatened us, for we intoned the Ave Maris Stella,
during which the spirits of the air vanished, and we only experi¬
enced the rocking of the boat, encouraged at the same time by the
realisation that Our Lord was Master of that piece of wood which
separated us from the ocean’s abyss. Sitting at the stern of the
boat, I put my hands into the sea and bathed them, but I withdrew
them quickly when I felt one of them being drawn down vigorously.
It could not have been one of those sharks two metres long, but
certainly something of the crab species which, when once it grasped,
kept a tight hold.

We spent the day in pious readings, interrupted now and then
by the arrival of new passengers or fishing boats carrying a quantity

48

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cahrini

of corals for those who cared to buy them. We amused ourselves
by watching the little islands, which, owing to the ebb and flow
of the tide, appeared correspondingly very small or very large.
These islands are joined by narrow stretches of land. At low tide
we perceived the remnants of a shipwreck. Who knows how many
years ago? The old vessel is so wedged in the sand that no tide
can set it afloat. How many poor creatures may have been
victims in the disaster! What feelings of compassion does the
thought not awaken in us and move us to pray for the repose
of their souls!

Yesterday, the 21st, we desired to pay a return visit to Panama,
but the passage cost too much so we satisfied our desire for Holy
Communion by the thought of having received Our Lord the day
before and by drawing Him into the Mystic Tabernacle of our
hearts through Spiritual Communion. During the course of the
morning the Sisters were anxious to visit the islands near by.
This could be done easily, as the tide was low. They could be
reached by boat and then on foot, thus passing from one isle to
the other. The trip took only ten minutes and cost very little,
so I was able to satisfy their desire. I did not go myself, however,
for, if I admit my weakness, I am afraid of the sea, and if there
were no very holy motive in view, I have no courage to go where
I fear danger, unless I were sent by obedience, and when, of course,
one’s actions are blessed by God.

Oh, blessed voice of obedience! When that speaks, the Mis¬
sionary crosses the ocean and gives no thought to the roaring
waters, the rising and lowering of the billows, but the ocean
becomes to her a sublime and magnificent sight that fills her
with admiration, and induces her to praise the Creator for the
beauty and wonder of His works.

The Sisters enjoyed themselves immensely under the shady trees.
They found other shells, but none so pretty as those on the beach
at Panama.

The two days of rest are over, and at seven p.m. the steamer
sets sail amidst the salutations of the passengers on the other
steamers in the harbour, the boatmen and the waving of hundreds
of flags. It is more of a pleasure trip, for we are coasting all the
time. The steamer does not seem to move, no sound of the
engines is heard, and still the boat is going rapidly. The waters

New York to Nicaragua — October, 1891

49

of the Pacific Ocean are really quiet—it does not appear to be
what it is in reality.

Yesterday, at five p.m., the Vigil of St. Raphael, w^e reached
Punta Arenas, Gulf of Costa Rica. Here the steamer stopped
for the mail of the first Republic of Central America. Owing to
the low tide, the steamer was obliged to remain two hundred yards
from the shore. Some rowing boats conveyed passengers to and
from the steamer. Amongst these was a gentleman who approached
us, and hearing that we wanted to send a telegram to Dona Elena
Arellano, offered to do it for us. He further told us that as the
Bishop had come to Punta Arenas for the Feast of St. Raphael,
he would inform him of our arrival, and was sure that the Bishop
would be glad to see us.

In about ten minutes he returned to the port, and in half-an-
hour's time we perceived a boat coming towards us with two
persons in it, and presently we recognised the prelate’s dress. In
no time the Bishop was ascending the gangway, and he met us as
a father awaiting the arrival of his children. We all approached
the most excellent prelate, who, sitting in our midst, listened with
interest to the account of our voyage and the work we were about
to undertake. Now and then he whispered to his secretary, ‘‘We
must get them here, too,” and his secretary said, “Why don’t you
at once?” He encouraged us greatly, but told us, however, we
should have great difficulties to encounter, but we would overcome
them and do great good if we maintained the true spirit. Finally
he told us that if we had much to suffer, to write to him and he
would give us shelter in his diocese. He blessed us and then went,
leaving behind him an excellent impression of his zeal and holiness.
He is German, possessing an intelligent mind and good spirit, a
strong physique and energetic character. He is just the type of
person for these countries.

To-day, which is the Feast of Saint Raphael, is the last day of
our voyage. Just as this angel conducted Tobias to the land of
fortune, so he conducts us to these countries where we can accu¬
mulate treasures for Heaven by working hard for these abandoned
souls. Even here on board ladies and gentlemen- approach us
and tell us how necessary it is to have Missionaries in these parts
who will work with true zeal for the good of the people. Oh!
my God, bless our intentions, and give us zeal for the salvation

50

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

of our neighbours^ souls, and communicate to us that energy which
knows no measure and overcomes all difficulties confiding in the
Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Yesterday afternoon we saw what seemed like a small canal,
with waters of different colours, flowing like so many streams in
the midst of the salty sea. We asked the Captain the cause of
this phenomenon, and he told us it was due to a phosphorous
element, and that at night we should be able to see the phosphor¬
escence, which is quite common in the Pacific Ocean.

Here we are, at the Equinox—twelve hours full night. It is
interesting to see the succession of both day and night. At six
p.m. we are in full daylight, and at six-thirty the sun not only dis¬
appears, but we have perfect night. It is the same in the morning.
At five-thirty a.m. we are still in darkness, and at six a.m. the sun
is high in the heavens. There is a difference of six hours between
the time in Italy and Granada, so whilst we hear Mass, you are
making the Particular Examination of Conscience, and when we
are going to bed, you are about to get up, and thus we are always
praising God, which I ever greatly desire.

Whilst I am writing, we have arrived at the end of our voyage.
This morning, the 25th, the steamer entered one of the most
beautiful gulfs I have ever seen, the Gulf of Nicaragua, off the
coast of Corinto. It anchored at seven a.m., about eighty metres
from the shore, and soon, amidst the strains of a very fine band,
we saw two boats adorned with flags and steered by soldiers
rowing towards the steamer. Everyone was asking what it meant,
and we were amongst the enquirers. When the boat reached the
steamer, a priest and an old gentleman came on board; then
other priests and gentlemen followed who had accompanied them.
They are the representatives of the President and of the Bishop,
sent to meet us. Everyone made way for them to approach us,
as we were standing at a distance and little thought such distin¬
guished personages were approaching us. They presented us with
salutations from the great men of the Republic and prayed us to
go with them, saying our luggage would be seen to. Having
saluted the Captain and passengers, some of whom were crying
because we were leaving them, we boarded the boats which con¬
veyed us on shore. At Corinto we partook of a good breakfast
which had been prepared for us; it being already ten o'clock, our

51

Nezv York to Nicaragua — October, 1891

appetites had been somewhat sharpened by the pure air. In the
meantime a dispatch arrived welcoming us on the part of the
President, and giving us and our luggage a free passage. Thus,
after receiving several visitors, we boarded the train at three p.m.,
accompanied by the same personages who met us on board the
vessel.

At six p.m. we arrived at Leon, where a crowd was awaiting
us, to see what we were like, I believe, but the place was so full
that we could not get off the train, so we were compelled to go
further back and take another exit. All precautions seemed use¬
less, for the people were determined to see us. While all this was
going on, the Vicar General, sent by the Bishop, came on board
the train and read an address to us in the Bishop^s name, which
was certainly an honour not merited by us.

We were at last able to get off the train, surrounded by soldiers
so as not to be crushed to death. Then we got into carriages
which took us to an hotel, where, by orders of the Bishop, apart¬
ments had been prepared for the night. The owner of the hotel
is a Florentine, who had great pleasure in serving us, and treated
us as well as he could.

In the evening some ladies and gentlemen from Leon came to
visit us and ask us to send seven Sisters to Leon to open an
Academy there. It was very hard to convince them that such
things were quite impossible for the moment, but in the end they
resigned themselves to it by my promising to let them have some
Sisters some years hence.

In the morning the Bishop sent carriages to convey us to his
palace, as he wished to see us, and though seriously ill through an
apoplectic attack which paralysed his tongue, he got up to see
us, making efforts to speak and assuring us that as soon as he
was better he would come to Granada to see us.

At eight-thirty a.m. we were on board the train, and at ten a.m.
we reached Momotambo, where we took another trip up the lake,
and where another breakfast was prepared by the Bishop’s orders,
the day before. At eleven a.m. we crossed this beautiful lake.
Opposite us were several volcanoes, only one of which was not
extinct, but from which only smoke came forth. At four p.m.
we arrived at Managua, where a train for Granada was awaiting
us. One of the Senators and a Deputy of the Government, with

52

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

other persons desirous to see the Sisters, came to salute us.

At six p.m. we arrived at Granada, where the whole population
awaited us. I really think no one could have remained at home,
everybody seemed to be at the station. The crowd prevented
the carriages from coming up to us, as they wanted us to pass
them so that they could see us, but the number of people was so
great that order could not be maintained, and we feared we should
be suffocated. I was particularly anxious, as some of the Sisters
were not feeling too well. I feared they would make martyrs of
us through their great devotion towards us. I therefore prayed
the soldiers to make room for us, and as soon as I called them
they drew near and put the people in order, forming a great pro¬
cession to the Parish Church, where the parish priest, accom¬
panied by other priests, awaited us to sing the Te Deum, after
which we were taken to the house which was destined for us, and
where with great pleasure we are preparing to open an Academy.

All the children of the town want to attend our school, and
boarders from the neighbouring districts are asking admittance,
but for the present we can only take fifty boarders, for although
the house is big, it is not big enough for this tropical climate where
the heat is intense. Now and then we have, as it were, a providen¬
tial breeze which, pure and fresh, restores us a little. We have
large enclosures with a variety of orange trees and other smaller
plants, and flowers of all colours and kinds. It just looks like the
beginning of Spring, and so it will be on Christmas Day.

The good Lady Elena Arellano had all the dormitories in order
for the Sisters, and a very nice airy chapel, so that the Director of
the Seminary, who by the order of the Bishop had accompanied
us, could celebrate Mass and give us Holy Communion. In the
afternoon he gave a beautiful sermon inviting people to thank the
Sacred Heart for having bestowed on them the grace of having
the Religious amongst them. At present Donna Elena is preparing
the desks and arranging the programme or prospectus, which will
be examined by the heads of the families, and so far this has
been approved by them, for they say we have brought them true
progress. We hope this will result in good to their souls; for this
alone have we undertaken such a long voyage. May the Sacred
Heart and Saint Aloysius, who is Patron of this house, help to
obtain these graces.

New York to Nicaragua — October^ 1891

53

All the Sisters are well and working hard to open the Academy
very soon. Perhaps they will begin about the middle of December.
Those Sisters who feared earthquakes fear nothing now, though
we experience some shaking. We have a volcano quite near.
Some people want us to visit the country, which offer I intend to
accept later on before I leave, so I shall have something to tell
you, and not be like those who go to Rome without going to see
the Pope.

I beg of you to become true Missionaries, capable of those
sacrifices which your Sisters with the aid of the Sacred Heart
have made. Seek to perfect your spirit and the observance of
the Holy Rules, for you must be holy to be able to go to the
Missions, and perfect by observing your rules and customs.

Our great Patron, Saint Francis Xavier, said, ‘‘He who goes
holy to the Missions will find many occasions to sanctify himself
more, but he who goes poorly provided with holiness, runs the
risk of losing what he has and of falling away."' I become more
convinced of this truth every day, and as experience is a great
master, let us take advantage of the lessons it teaches and never
let a day pass without examining our conscience and making
serious resolutions to acquire the virtues we need.

May the Sacred Heart bless and enclose you in His sweet Heart,
imprinting His love on yours, and giving you perfect detachment
of yourselves.

Your affectionate Mother in the
Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Frances Saverio Cabrini.

Granada, November 3rd, 1891.

CHAPTER V

enoa to Tlew Hark

i8q4

My dear Daughters,

The peace of God be with you and accompany you
everywhere with the Most Adorable Charity of
Jesus Christ.

Two years have passed since I left the Missions of Central
America and the United States and returned to you, and now
having to leave you again is very hard, for I have become as
one, who, being accustomed to the pleasure of gathering every
day variegated and odoriferous bouquets of the most beautiful
flowers of your virtues, now goes forth wandering in an endless
desert, where nothing but weeds can be found. But I consoled
myself with the reflection that, if when I was near you I could
gather bunches of flowers which edified me, now that I am far
away the memory of your steady and virtuous practices, which
make you exemplary Religious, true Spouses of Christ, will give
me comfort, and I shall seem to hear a voice saying, '‘Go, Mother,
and do as the Vicar of Christ has told you. Do not worry
about your daughters far away. They will relieve your mind by
the beautiful and consoling news they will send you. They will
do their duty faithfully and keep their promises.*'

Am I to put faith in that voice within? Certainly you are
very good-hearted, and you would never wound the heart of a
Mother with bad news; you are sensible and you never break
your word. You will try to grow in virtue, try to make sacrifices
yourselves, real true sacrifices, in order to obtain that the time
and labours I spend be not in vain, and that I may find good
ground, good seed, a good harvest. "Euntes ibant et flebant
mittentes semina sua: venientes autem venient cum exultatione
portantes manipulos suos." It was thus that the most eminent

55

56 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Cardinal Parocchi wrote in the commendation he sent. But the
first verse is no longer applicable to me, since my daughters
follow me with their virtues, sacrifices and their beautiful and
admirable fidelity. Shall I fear weather, privations, bad treat¬
ment and injustice? No, for the Missionary should fear nothing,
outside sin, an offence, however small, against God. Then, what
can disturb me? One thing only, that my daughters had lost
the spirit of the Institute, had become weak, unfaithful: this
would be a sea of bitterness which would trouble me. Let the
bond of Charity bind us together as a true family in the Heart
of Jesus.

But you wish me to chase away all sad thoughts, and I ask
you to assume the usual gayness of the Missionary and to join
the company of the good Sisters who surround me. We are
fifteen in number, and so represent the fifteen Mysteries of the
Holy Rosary. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary is our guide, our
star and our comfort. We each drew a mystery, and the one
I love most fell to me—‘The Descent of the Holy Ghost”—so
I shall remain in the upper room during the whole voyage, and
from this dear solitude I send a thought, a word to you, providing
you say the “Veni Creator” for me every day.

At Genoa we received every mark of attention. With the
Sisters came several persons, amongst whom was the distinguished
family, De Maria, who came to say good-bye to their daughter
and sister. Sister Xavier, who showed the true Missionary Spirit.
It was admirable how both the parents and the Sisters restrained
their feelings, though their emotion was great. Half-an-hour be¬
fore the departure, Mr. Lamp, the distinguished representative of
the German Lloyd Line, introduced me to the Captain, warmly
recommending us to his care. He promised to do all he could for
us. All luggage was on board, and the Fulda had raised anchor,
when we perceived a small boat carrying Colonel de Maria and
his family and four Sisters of the House at Genoa, who continued
to follow and wave salutation till the steamer left the harbour.
The Fulda is now out of the port and our adieux are ended. We,
however, are all united, and whilst we sail beneath Our Lady’s
Mantle, enclosed in the Adorable Heart of Jesus, you must pray
and offer sacrifices to God for us, and Our Divine Lord will
smile upon us and bless us. Pray, pray much, for we depend

Genoa to New York — September^ 1894

57

on your prayers; we trust in them, assured that you will obtain
for us a very happy voyage and abundant graces.

The I4th September. To-day we commemorate the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross, and the Sisters not being able to honour the
day in any other way, have thought fit to feel somewhat unwell.
Ihe sea is calm and beautiful, the air is mild and soothing, the
treatment on board is very much like what we have been used to,
but, whatever happened, one after another began to feel sea-sick
and retired to their ^'boxes,^' as they call the small berths in the
state room. At dinner I desired all should come to table, but they
had to leave at once, not wishing to disturb the others. It is
three p.m., and all, feeling well again, have come on deck to see
the Balearic Islands, near which the Fulda is coasting.

We saw the Majorca Islands, also, the home of Saint Alphonsus
Rodriquez, and, moved by ardent desires, we begged for some of
those sublime and great virtues possessed by this Saint, and which
I would love to see imprinted in the hearts of my daughters.

This morning (as we had arranged to do last evening) all
wanted to make a regular meditation, but they changed their
minds very quickly as they were feeling too ill. Some of the Sisters
tried to resist, but had to give in at last. At present all are in
contemplation, admiring the landscape, sea and sky, which present
to our view a scene of enchantment. Of course it is not like the
scenery of Liguria when coasting along the Riviera. There we
see a real amphitheatre from the sloping top of the Apennines to
the sea, the mountains, hills, beach, the sharp peaks, the lofty
pines, the soft green, the undulating slopes, the peaceful olive and
thousands of fruits and flowers, while the palms and woods and
fruit gardens which reach to the sea are beautiful to behold from
the deck of the steamer.

From Genoa to Nice, the cities seem to vie with one another
in presenting a continual change of view. To tell the truth, until
I became acquainted with the beauties of La Riviera Levante, and
still more with those of La Riviera de Ponente, I never realised
the beauty of Italy. I am happy, now, however, to be able to
describe our Peninsula to the people of other countries through
which I may pass.

The Sisters having remembered it was the anniversary of my

58

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

profession, regretted my not being able to receive Holy Com¬
munion, for which kind thought I was most grateful. It is only
one day since I received Jesus in my heart, and I imagine He is
still there. One remembers Jacob’s mystical dream when he saw
a mystic ladder and angels descending and ascending, who re¬
vealed many mysteries and secrets to Jacob and assured him and
his descendants of God’s protection. Though we are far from the
Holy Tabernacle, still even here on the sea there is a mystic ladder
which touches Heaven, and the angels ascend and descend upon
it for us also. From its summit God looks down upon us and
makes generous promises. We can, therefore, repeat with Jacob,
‘‘Really, God is here in this place and we did not know it.” We
are in the bosom of the Catholic Church. We always lay our
heads on the dear and mystic stone of Jesus; we agree with Him
in everything, and abandon ourselves to Him, tranquil and secure,
and by thus doing we merit in Jesus and by Jesus to partake of
the good and the graces He brings us. And so I am quite happy
to celebrate on the sea the most beautiful day of my life, the
anniversary of my profession. Jesus is looking at me from the
summit of the ladder; I invite Him to come to me spiritually,
and He descends at once into my heart. He deigns to come down
to this steamer, the Fulda, to bless those who are travelling with
us. What a gift, and we knew it not!

To-day is the iSth; we have been more fortunate, we do not
feel as if we were at sea, but rather wrapped up in a cloud like
that of the Transfiguration. There is a charming blue sky above,
and below us one can hardly distinguish the sea from the sky.
Some of the passengers say we are in the third heavens, others,
the seventh; the glorious splendour renders everything so bright
and brilliant that the passengers exclaim, “How lovely, how beau¬
tiful.” We seem to see the portals of Heaven which do not close
at the end of the day, because there daytime never ends, for the
day up there is eternal and the light which emanates from the
Divine Face never fails. There, in that abode, exists no night,
no ignorance, no blindness, for everything is seen in God; there,
no sorrows exist, no tears, no adversity, no sighs. No, daughters,
in Heaven there are no clouds to obscure the Divine Sun, the
Eternal Sun of Justice. There is no fear of losing God; no wiles

Genoa to New York — September, 1894

59

of the enemy, for he has been routed; the world is far away, and
the body spiritualized lives in harmony with the soul. No, there
is no night in Heaven and the door is always open. Friends reach
there at every moment, every instant; they do not disturb, but,
rather, render the repose serene and sweet. Oh, sublime City,
send down your beams of Light to these regions of darkness, this
shadow of death where we still miserably live. Come, oh Super¬
natural Light, to reveal to us the beauties of that Blessed Country,
and detach us from the miseries of this earth; make our eyes so
pure that, through the shining crystal of Faith, they may behold
the eternal good which awaits us after a short time of sacrifice
and self-conquering. He who fights will be victorious, and to
the victor the prize is Heaven.

Between one thing and another, yesterday we reached Gilbraltar.
The steamer steered into the harb'our, remaining, however, half-a-
kilometre distant from the shore. The small tenders came for
passengers who were bound for Spain and for those who wanted
to visit Gilbraltar. Two of us went ashore to make a visit to the
Blessed Sacrament, but the churches were closed, and the cabman
told us that they would not re-open at that hour, as the priests
had gone to dinner. We then went to buy some Spanish books
for our new Mission, but we were handed Spanish novels. None
of the booksellers had what we wanted. The cabman tried to
console us by telling us there was very little devotion in Gibraltar.
He took us then to the Borgo S. Rocco to show us what was
interesting. In the Public Gardens we found all sorts of plants.
The cabman, acting as our guide, picked bunches of pretty berries
for us, and we brought them back to the Sisters as souvenir of
this Spanish land.

Gibraltar is grand with its rocks and mountains, which render
it one of the strongest fortresses which England has acquired in
the Mediterranean. There is stationed here a garrison of six
thousand soldiers, with an enormous amount of artillery and can¬
nons of incredible size. The city is small, and contains three
Catholic Churches and three Protestant Churches. Though I was
told there was very little religion in Gibraltar, all the Spaniards
I met appeared to be good; they told me they were apostolic
Catholics, an expression which greatly consoled me. Moreover,
they wanted to introduce us to the Sisters they love so much, but

60

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

time was pressing, the Captain having allowed us but two hours,
so we hurried on board, where we were received with great joy,
just as if we were members of one family. We are very fortunate,
indeed. Our company is composed of very kind ladies and gentle¬
men, who are most thoughtful and respectful towards us.

Among the passengers is a Father of the Conventual Order,
whom I met four years ago at Hoboken. We were rather impor¬
tunate in begging him to say Holy Mass, at least on Sundays, but
he could not comply with our request, for he had no vestments
or other requisites with him. So, here again on this voyage we
are deprived of Holy Mass and Holy Communion. But, after all,
God wishes it thus, so let us cherish the memory of the last
reception of Him, as Holy Viaticum, in Genoa. As I have said
before. He helps, consoles and comforts us. We are representing
the fifteen mysteries, and God, in His immense goodness, leaves
us to enjoy Him. He is our Paradise—the Heaven of our desires.

We left Gibraltar yesterday, and, steering through the Straits,
passed Spain, or had a glimpse of it; but we turned with sighs
and groans towards Morocco, that poor land to which we would
willingly fly to give succour to those poor souls which the Word
of God has not as yet reached. It is true, vast crusades of Christ’s
Missionaries are already on this soil, but the land is vast, the
ignorance extreme, and the help is insufflcient. May Missionary
Priests and Sisters multiply in numbers! The harvest is great,
the labourers are few! To you, Christian maidens, do I speak
especially, love God, and make yourselves active with the zeal
that burns in you; help your poor abandoned brethren, who are
the price of the blood of Christ, join our band and-try to give a
large number of souls to the Heart of Jesus.

Your love must be active as that of Jesus on Golgotha. ‘‘Sitio,”
‘T thirst,” cried Jesus, ‘‘for souls.” If you love God, come forth,
have courage, the devil laughs at the weak, at the timid, whereas
he fears and flies from energetic souls. Are you fearful? She
who trusts in God and mistrusts herself, need fear nothing,
because stripped of herself and strong with the strength of God,
and with faith and humility, she can defy everything. Mind,
dangers only exist for those who put themselves in the way of
them, who mix up the things of the world with the things of God.
On the other hand, those who are untrammelled with the things

Genoa to New York — September, 1894 61

of the world, seek God alone and His service, and His glory, run
no risk.

Worldlings look with esteem on Religious who despise the
pleasures of the world; they revere them and will have recourse
to them in their needs. What an honour Christian maidens, if
God calls you to extend His Kingdom! Let us be up and doing!
Do not refuse and incur the rebuke given to the Foolish Virgins,
by neglecting to take advantage of the opportunity which the
Institute affords us of co-operating in saving souls, and thus gain¬
ing merits, which in Heaven will fructify in an immeasurable
reward of glory.

Virgins are chosen Spouses of the King and therefore Queens.
If they are Queens, they must have a people over whom to exercise
their power—their celestial Mission of Peace. Just as the Virgin,
working as a Missionary, gains souls to Christ, so she extends her
dominions, and her sceptre becomes more powerful and more
glorious. Come, prudent Virgins, and enlarge the Missionary
Army, come, and make all nations give one another the kiss of
peace. Come, for the Kingdom of God has no limits; its limits
are those of the globe itself. Come, and let your glory be the
glory of your celestial Spouse, the working out of that celestial
talent—the sublime vocation of co-operating with Christ for the
salvation of souls. Come, for in the Vineyard of the Great Father
of the family we are to gather rich and copious sheaves. There
are some who may think they are too poor, ignorant and weak
to undertake such work. Do not fear, mistrust yourselves and
confide in God, for, as I have already said, '‘Omnia possum in
Eo qui me confortat.” “With God I can do all things.*' He who
calls us is that same Jesus who said, “Be perfect even as your
Heavenly Father is perfect." But how are we to attain such per¬
fection? By the grace of Him Who deigns to impose such an
injunction upon us. When the Virgin of Christ mistrusts herself
and confides completely in Jesus Christ, she can do all things.
She becomes powerful, and can at every instant repeat, “With
God I shall do great things."

But now I must continue my letter. You will certainly forgive
the digression, which was inspired by my great desire to see
your numbers increase. I long to help those nations who excite
my pity. To-day I am alone on deck. All the Sisters have re-

62

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

mained in their berths. As we passed through the Straits of
Gibraltar and entered on the great Atlantic, we at once felt the
roughness of the ocean, and that, coupled with the swaying of the
steamer and the roar of thunder, unnerved the Sisters, and they
began to fear a storm. Sister Alphonsus tried to be brave, and
came on deck to keep me company, but she was hardly seated
when she was forced to descend. Then Sister Xavier did her
best to be brave, overcoming herself by resting and coming on
deck in and out. If she persists in her efforts, she will eventually
become a good sailor. Sister Alacoque is quite a success; she
rests on a table or a chair from time to time, and at intervals
acts as infirmarian to all the other Sisters. Sister Giovannina
made several attempts also, but was eventually forced to retire
to her berth. Sister Constance is always up and comes to her meals
regularly, for she thinks that by eating she will be able to resist
the sea-sickness longer. I believe she is quite right, but to-day
even she is laid up and can eat only what is brought to her.
Sister Benedict sighs and believes she is ill, but one can see she
is looking brighter than ever. All the Sisters seem very happy
and are making the best of their little discomforts.

To-day the Captain and the Head Stewart begged me to tell
them what the Sisters needed, as they felt it very keenly to see
the Sisters suffering so much. The kindness we receive is incredible.
I experienced great attention as a passenger on the Transatlantic
Company’s steamers, but the North German Line merits just as
much praise. Captain Thalenhorst is a typical sea captain, and his
good-heartedness and sagacity stamp him as the right man in the
right place.

To-day I made up my mind to stay in my berth and rest awhile
after the incessant fatigue of the preceding days. I had hoped the
Sisters would remain there also, as they had done during these
past days, but to my surprise they were on deck, bright and happy
and as serene as the lovely sea which we are enjoying to-day. The
sea is of a charming deep blue, and reminds one of the heaven of
a soul in the possession of God, a very peaceful heart, a heavenly
look. Such a soul is always made more beautiful by Jesus. It
listens to His conversations, and loves them because they are
purer and more precious than gold or silver; it listens to the
precepts of its Beloved and feels they give it life and salvation.

63

Genoa to Nezv York — September, 1894

for such are fragrant with the sweet balm of grace and wisdom.
Such a soul should exclaim, “Enlighten my mind, give light to
my intellect, help me with Thy grace that I may happily run the
paths of Thy sweet commandments. Do not permit me to stumble
on the way, but make me strong with Thy virtue, that I may
faithfully do Thy holy will. Work in my weak and unstable
heart, that I may fervently desire all what Thou wiliest, my Jesus,
and reject that which Thou wiliest not. Guard Thou Thyself this
Tabernacle consecrated to Thee.” To this beautiful soul conse¬
crated to God, every sign from Jesus is invaluable. Such a Re¬
ligious not only performs what is hourly prescribed for her, but
joyfully anticipates His every desire. She no longer lives for her¬
self but for her Beloved; she has, as it were, wings to fly wherever
the Divine will calls her, and to do and suffer something for
Jesus. Again, this soul imitates the life of Jesus. He was obedient
unto death, and the obedient Religious imitates Him in her perfect
obedience to her Superiors; to her, every command is easy, for
in obedience her path is safe, her work sure, her spirit strong.
She is joyful happy, and smiling; she feasts on heavenly fruits; she
acquires eternal merit at every moment, and follows in the foot¬
steps of the Saints. It is obedience which distinguishes true piety
from false piety. The obedient Religious is victorious over her
enemies, for as she subjects herself to her Superior, so she acquires
a perfect mastery over the devil, who was cast out from Heaven
for disobedience. She has promised to give up her life, rather
than be unfaithful to her loving Lord. In the exercise of obedience
she has the merit of martyrdom. In martyrdom we sacrifice the
body, in obedience we sacrifice the will, our liberty, the supreme
power of the soul. Obedience is a penance of the mind, a sacrifice
immensely more pleasing to God than any other sacrifice you
could voluntarily make of your own choice. One act of obedience
is more pleasing to God than a thousand other acts of your own
will. The Saints teach us that it is better to eat by virtue of
obedience than to fast to gratify one’s own will. Saint Mary
Magdalen de Pazzi, used to say that the simplest act of obedience
is greater than the highest act of contemplation. In fact, we read
in her life that when she was in ecstasy the voice of obedience
was sufficient to recall her to herself. Learn to love this virtue,
which forms the character of a true Religious. The readiness

64 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

of your obedience indicates the readiness of your heart, for the
hand moves and the feet run when the spirit is fervent. In serv¬
ing Jesus Christ, you see Him in your Superior. You must
consider the orders of your Superior not only as being rightly
given, but as being the best for you. If thoughts against obedi¬
ence come to you, chase them away as you would drive away
thoughts against our Holy Faith. See in your Superior not only
the authority of God but the will of God. Remember that holy
obedience is ordered by God in the Holy Scriptures; therefore
it is orthodox, and in faith there can be neither deceit nor illusion.
Conform your will and judgment with that of your Superior,
and you will attain to a great height of perfection. Do not regard
the natural gifts and good qualities of your Superior, for by so
doing you will change Divine Obedience into human Obedience.
See in her Jesus Christ, and all will be well. Make all your
actions, however small, precious by obedience not by doing your
own will. Beg often of Jesus to give you the spirit of Obedience,
and, as far as it lies in your power, do all you can to merit such
a grace, and blessed will you be in obtaining such a signal favour.
Let us trust in the Heart of Jesus, for Its very pulsation is
obedience.

It is almost evening now, and we have sailed 389 miles in
twenty-four hours. The Sisters seem fairly well, sewing and pray¬
ing, and meditating either with the aid of a book or by gazing
upon their sublime surroundings, which excite sublimer thoughts.
Sister Alexandrine, fearing to forget the days of the week, keeps
a record of them, and scrupulously reminds the Sisters every morn¬
ing of the same. Our fellow-passengers take more care of us than
they do of themselves; they give us everything they can rather
than see us suffer. They treat us with much respect and reverence,
and hold the religious habit in great veneration. Some of the
merchants ask our advice on their business affairs, and we try to
comfort them with the inspirations we receive from the Sacred
Heart. Yesterday a waiter told me how sorry he was that he
could not speak Italian, so that he might render the Sisters better
service. He wants me to act as interpreter, but my knowledge
of English is limited, barely enough to prevent me from losing
my way or from dying of hunger. When we are on deck there
is a very nice gentleman who always acts as interpreter. The

Genoa to Nezv York — September, 1894 65

Sacred Heart seems to bless us in a very special manner on this
voyage.

Well, my dear daughters, help us to praise and bless Him Who
with so much care and ineffable love guides and comforts us.

To-morrow, at ten a.m., we shall see the Azores, and we shall
be able to tell you something about them, though we may not be
able to visit them as we did Gibraltar.

At five a.m. we heard a whistle which notified us that the Azores
were in sight. We, however, did not understand the cause of
the movement on deck, but it was not long before our friends
came knocking at our doors to inquire why we were not on deck.

It really was a lovely sight! Some call the Azores the Azures,
and they really look like a bit of heaven dropped into the
Atlantic. What beautiful mountains and hills! The grand slopes
are covered with a smiling green that at every twenty metres
changes shade. The grassy plains, the heavy-laden vineyards, the
leafy woods and enchanting villas make one long to visit these
charming islands. More than one passenger was desirous of ask¬
ing the Captain to stop the steamer, at least for one hour, to see
these most fertile Portuguese possessions, cut up into fields,
cities and summer resorts, with everything so pretty. Surely wealth
and comfort reign there. The good Captain steered the vessel
in such a way that the cities of these islands could be seen quite
easily. The city of Punta Delgada could be seen sloping, as it
were, into the sea. Its towers, steeples and monuments reflected
in the waters. Just as we were passing, a most beautifully coloured
rainbow appeared in the sky which seemed to unite the inhabitants
of the city with the passengers of the steamer. The rainbow
seemed to announce the Peace of the Divine Heart which draws
the hearts of all people together in ardent charity. Behind this
arc there was a still larger and more extended rainbow with lighter
tints; it was a sight which made us hold our breath. It looked
like a heavenly light spread out to purify the mind and render it
capable of raising itself to praise the Maker of Creation, so im¬
mense and enchanting and inimitable by man. And, while the
arched rays of this beautiful rainbow increased in splendour, and
this unparalleled view fascinated us, big bright drops of rain ad¬
vancing at lightning rate sprinkled us all over, and we were
obliged to take shelter. The Azores are beautiful and healthful;

66

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

it is a resort for invalids, especially for those who suffer from chest
trouble. How good God is!

This morning the rainbow reminded me of our celestial Mother,
the real Ark, who guides our little company across the sea. Mary
is heavenly, and in her loveliness and serenity reflects the rays of
the Divinity. She is a shining dart burning and inflamed with
charity for us, because the splendours which are in her descend
from God, Who is not only an ineffable light but a burning fire
of charity. How many wonders we meet with in the love of
Mary; how many graces, how many gifts, how many good things
come from her benevolent hands, and all are sealed with great
love. One look from her, one thought from her fills us with her
burning charity. Mary, our sweet Mother, is an ocean of good¬
ness, a fire of charity that burns, in flames and transforms. She
is a sun of perennial light, grace and beneficence. No one is ex¬
cluded from her beneficial heat, for her charity is universal and
continual. To all she opens the bosom of her ineffable goodness;
she is ready to help all, and even anticipates their desires.

Mary is like the beautiful olive tree in a field where all can
see her and have access to her. From her fields flow perennial
streams of water wherein the thirsty may quench their thirst.
Do not wonder if you see yourselves overloaded with graces and
tenderness from Mary, for she dispenses gifts and graces which
flow like a stream from that immeasurable ocean of love she
bears us.

Yesterday, the 14th, we had the last glimpse of the Azores.
The great Saint George did not seem half so beautiful as Saint
Michael, though it also had smiling green mountains and valleys
and enchanting slopes. In one of the great cities we saw a very
beautiful and artistically built Cathedral, but no one could tell
me the name of the city. There were several boats full of people,
but none of them could approach us owing to the formidable waves
created by the movement of the Fulda, They waved their hands
and handkerchiefs to us. How I longed to tell some of them to
go and visit Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. They
certainly would do so, Tm sure. All on board seem quite disposed
to believe what we say about God. They are very reserved in
manner and speech. We united with the Portuguese and Flemings
in sending our greetings to the Churches. We could also see

67

Genoa to New York — September, 1894

volcanoes; some were extinct, whilst the sharply-pointed cones of
others seemed about to burst at any moment and send out fire,
smoke and lava.

The scenery of the Azores has disappeared, and rainbows succeed
one another, two at a time. The passengers are surprised, but we
discern the eye of Mary looking down upon us, as though to console
us. Then another thing happened which astonished those Sisters
who are strangers to sea voyages. A huge number of water-birds
appeared. The sea, disturbed by a north wind, tossed the vessel,
and the passengers began to whisper to one another and then to
exclaim aloud, “A storm, a storm!” Like the Apostles, they
gathered around me, and begged me to tell the sea to be calm. I
had to tell them they had little faith and little courage, also that
it needed bad weather to bring a storm. If one did happen we
need not fear, for we are travelling in the Name of Jesus and under
the mantle of Mary. Neither sea, winds nor billows will frighten
us. Our faith obliges us to trust in God, and that trust will make
us strong even unto death. The sea still continues to be rough,
but to-day the barometer marks “Fair Weather,” so we hope to
recover the calm that marked our passage from the Mediterranean
to the Azores. Sister Constance asked me if I would allow her
to complain aloud, but I told her to repeat the words, “How
wonderful!” This she does, though she can hardly bear it at
all. Sister Pia cannot get up, so she remains in her berth. She
is able to eat whatever is brought to her. Sister Xavier is not
feeling well, but she keeps me company on deck, as she does not
like her berth. Sister Alacoque is quite like a seaman, healthy
and active. She is still infirmarian, and knows how to make
the Sisters eat. This is the best thing she can do, for it is very
bad not to be able to eat whilst travelling, for fasting increases
the nauseous feeling and one suffers more. Sister Frances suffers
silently and serenely, and forces herself to eat for the sake of
obedience. Sister Claver suffers more than anyone else. Our
Sisters have made a Heaven of their cabins. One Sister dreams
she is at Holy Mass but cannot receive Holy Communion, and then
another sees a Saint who comes to console them. They are always
praying. The goodness of God is so great that He consoles us in
a thousand ways. To raise us up, to provide for us, to console
us and to enrich us. He has thousands of ways. Have faith, my

68

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

dear daughters; whatever you ask you shall receive, for by prayer
born of faith you can obtain everything. If, sometimes, we do
not get what we want, let us examine ourselves and see whether
the cause does not lie in the want of proper dispositions, perhaps a
lack of proper spirit, of fervour, of supernatural motives; perhaps
our prayers are said with the lips only, with weariness, in a hurry
or without recollection and perseverance. My good daughters,
how prayer enlivens faith and does everything! Prayer and
Faith united are powerful beyond thought. If the Saints have
worked wonders and prodigies, they did it through prayer with
faith. Have faith! He who prays with faith has fervour, and
fervour is the fire of prayer. This mysterious fire has the power
of consuming all our faults and imperfections, and of giving to our
actions, vitality, beauty and merit. The fervour produced by a
lively faith is like a shower of limpid crystal waters that revive
and animate. It lightens all our sufferings and troubles, and
purifies all that is faulty and earthly, and gives everything its
proper virtue, value and splendour. But, note, I am not speaking
of sensible devotion, but of that substantial fervour which is the
product of a lively faith. I refer to that fervour and ardour of
spirit which consist in the union of the soul with God in perfect
conformity of our will with the Will of God. This fervour you
will obtain by keeping a mastery over the powers of the soul, and
by watchfulness over your senses, rejecting, as far as it lies in
your power, all useless, vain and inopportune thoughts. A soul
recollected in God receives in its prayers the fervour of God, there¬
fore it can obtain from Him all it desires.

Accustom yourselves to unite your prayers with those of Jesus
Christ, so that yours coming in contact with His shall be purified
and sanctified. Be assured that after Jesus Himself has purified
them. He will present them to His Eternal Father. Pray always
with Jesus, always remembering that a soul united with Jesus can
do everything. Bear in mind this maxim, “Omnia possum in
Eo qui me confortat.'' Have faith; pray with faith, and good
measure and overflowing measure shall be given unto you. Oh,
Faith, beautiful daughter of Heaven, come, to our souls and let
us honour thee; thou who hast enveloped us with the beautiful
mantle of baptism, and hast always enriched us by means of the
other Sacraments!

Genoa to New Yof'k — September, 1894

69

Another gorgeous day! The sea is so calm and serene that one
hardly perceives the movement of the vessel! Everyone is up
and well. Tired of the rolling and the pitching of the steamer,
we said our prayers last evening. We began by humbling our¬
selves, knowing that humility is the secret that penetrates the
walls of the Holy City and the rock of the Omnipotent. Humility
is the foundation of every meritorious and virtuous work and of
prayer. It is impossible to please God without humility; it is a
golden scale that measures the strength of our prayers, and it is,
therefore, the measure of their weight in God’s own scales. The
humblest obtain the most graces, the least humble obtain the
least grace, for it is written: God resists the proud and gives
grace to the humble. ‘'Deus superbis resistit; humilibus autem
dat gratiam.” Chase away all sentiments of pride and self-love
if you want God to be with you. God will be our strength, and
if we are humble our prayers will ascend, like a sweet perfume,
to the throne of Heaven, where they will be fully granted. The
humble Religious is like a bunch of Spikenard, which, though the
smallest and humblest of flowers, is one of the most fragrant.
Spread about you the perfume of humility, study profoundly this
celestial virtue until you possess it completely and perfectly, and
then you will be able to repeat some day, when this life is over,
with the Spouse of the Canticles, '‘Nardus mea dedit odorem
suavitatis,” while the loving Saviour, delighting in your sweet
virtue, will give you the eternal kiss of Peace.

The Franciscan Father enquires daily how we are faring, and
tells us the Feast of the day, and thus helps Sister Alexandrine,
who, having been ill these past two days, has given up keeping her
diary, and so we run the risk of losing our bearings. I have met
kind friends on my journeys, but never anyone who exceeded the
kindness of our good Captain. He is just like a father, always
anxious about everyone being well provided for. He especially
watches over the Sisters and sees we have the best of attention.
The Sisters are having recourse to the Holy Souls before the
weather changes. These Blessed Souls cannot help themselves,
but they can do so much for us. Let us have pity on them; let
them have the principal part of our prayers, for the mitigation
of their sufferings depends upon our charity and our prayers. One
might almost say the keys of their prison have been consigned

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Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

to us. The Holy Souls love their Divine Spouse, they desire Him,
they sigh for Him, but they need the cooling hand of benefactors
to cancel their debts. These doves would love to fly to the bosom
of their God, but, woe to them if no pitying hand severs their
chains of fire. Come, beloved daughters, draw down upon them
a celestial dew which vvill cool and allay their inconceivable heat.
Your prayers will be the dew that will quench the flames of Divine
Justice. Comply with the just desires of these souls. You will
be doing much to your own advantage if you relieve them by
offering for them your Holy Communions, Indulgences, Masses
and all satisfactory works. This, you see, will be a work of perfect
charity, of immense glory to God, of great joy to the Church
Militant, Suffering and Triumphant, because with your prayers
you will send many saintly souls to the Kingdom of the
Blessed. Have no fear that you will lose your prayers, indulgences
and satisfactory works by giving them to the Holy Souls, but,
rather, rest assured that by so doing you will become rich in grace
and merits in this life and in sublime glory in Paradise. Rest
satisfied also that the intrinsic merit of this work of suffrage
remains always with you, being of its nature inalienable; only the
portion that gives atonement goes to the Holy Souls. Giving up,
then, this portion of our works to the Holy Souls, which some do
by means of the Heroic Act, we do nothing less than convert every
act of satisfaction into merit, and be assured that in the scales of
God one degree of grace and merit is of more value than all the
works of atonement we may apply to the Holy Souls. Be generous
to the Holy Souls, for he who gives shall receive, and he who is
merciful shall obtain mercy. The souls whom we set free will
l^ecome so many advocates, so many protectors who will pray for
us, intercede for us, and, what is more, they will interest themselves
in our Eternal Salvation.

The 21st. The sea is now as smooth as a table. Our sailing is
delightful. The passengers are very happy and come to thank us,
for they say they owe everything to our prayers. The Captain
says that each of us must bring a lovely day, and, as we are fifteen
in number, if we have fifteen fine days there will be a surplus of
four days’ fine weather, for the Fulda takes only eleven days from
Genoa to New York. At present all the Sisters are feeling well.

71

Genoa to New York — September, 1894

I always feel better at sea than on land, so the passengers call me
a sea-lion. But, by way of a change, I am sea-sick to-day. All
the passengers were quite surprised that I should have to pay the
toll at the very end of the voyage. This impost is generally
exacted at the beginning. But Jesus, the Master, does as He
wills. We have but to praise and thank Him, for everything is
good that He permits.

We have entered the Gulf Stream where everyone says the sea
is very rough, but up to now we have enjoyed wonderfully fine
weather. Everyone is astonished. So we have reason to praise
and thank God for His goodness in commanding the elements to
adapt themselves to our comfort and convenience. Love the good
God, for the sky, earth and sea tell us to love Him! The immense
ocean, set with wonderful gems, reveals clearly the ineffable
solicitude (with graces and blessings) with which our loving
Creator surrounds us. We look at the sea, the earth with its
inexhaustible fecundity, the firmament with its stars, and the
whole Universe reflects God’s attributes. His power. His wisdom
and goodness, and we cannot but exclaim with admiration, “How
wonderful is God in His works!’’ The sisters are quite bright
again to-day, so on deck we found a nice cosy corner where we
enjoyed our lecture on humility. We then read a chapter on
Charity, that sublime virtue which gives a foretaste of Heaven.
Those souls united in Charity peacefully repose in God, and await
with security great graces from God’s goodness. Magnanimous
and generous souls are those united in Charity; they are blessed
by God; they soar on high; they ascend to Heaven, where they
repose at God’s feet, and He, rejoicing in them, crowns them with
glory. Be charitable, my dear daughters, love one another in
holy love in the Adorable Heart of Jesus. Sacrifice yourselves
willingly for your Sisters; be meek towards one another; never
be sharp or resentful with one another. Try and be the one who
always soothes with the balm of peace. Learn how to use that
precious magnet of the Charity of the Adorable Heart to Jesus to
alleviate pain, to dress wounds and to console in tribulation.
Admire what is good in your Sisters, pity their faults and do not
envy anyone. What a wonderful sight to see so many souls of
different nations and different languages united in one religious

72 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

family, joined by the ties of the sweet Charity of the Adorable
Heart of Jesus.

Though the distance is widening more and more each day, still
Tm nearer to you in spirit than ever. Not a moment passes
without my thinking of you and working with you. You must
do the same and accompany me in the spirit of Holy Charity.
Help me with your prayers and sacrifices. When you wish to
console me, withdraw into the mystic sanctuary of your soul to
see if you have acquired the sweet virtue of Charity. I could
desire nothing more. Love all in the Adorable Heart of Jesus,
as the Saints love one another in Heaven; love, and God will
take care of the rest. Study Charity, love Charity, let Charity
rule your souls, and then you can repeat triumphantly, ‘‘Dotavit
me Deus dote bona,’’ as the Holy Ghost says. Yesterday the staff
were making great preparations to protect us from the icebergs
of Newfoundland, as we shall be very close to them to-night, but
the precautions were not needed, for the Blessed Virgin covered
us with her mantle, the Holy Souls interceded for us, and the
result was that we had rain during the whole night, which proved
very advantageous, for the sea became quite calm. Fresh
water and salty water mixed together form a calm sea, and this
lesson teaches us how to behave with those who are against us.
Raise your hearts on high and accept God’s will without murmuring
against or criticising those people who afflict us. Pity them and
excuse them as did David with regard to his enemy, for, on hearing
himself reviled, he did not defend himself, but said. Let them
talk, because it is God who permits their speaking against me; it
is little, indeed, they are saying, I merit more.” Thus behaves
a soul according to the Heart of God. If we become possessors
of such virtues, we would become Saints very easily. Never
murmur, never criticise; if you are inclined to use your tongue, use
it against yourself. Or, better still, as Saint Francis de Sales in¬
culcates, say neither good nor bad of yourself. To-day on deck
(I spoke of this yesterday) we were able to enjoy the sun and to
say our prayers and make our meditations together. As we were
rapt in contemplation, the sun, covered with graceful clouds,
formed, as it were, with its rays of gold, the border of Our
Lady’s Mantle. It seemed to us that Mary, the perfect image
of Jesus, was gazing down upon us. As a cloud brightened by

73

Genoa to New York — September, 1894

the rays of the sun becomes beautifully bright, so does Mary, the
perfect image of Jesus, appear brilliant in her Divine Beauty. The
fact is, that we imagined we saw Jesus and Mary, beautiful and
refulgent, looking down upon us and offering us their patronage
so that we might become converted.

But how shall we obtain Mary’s patronage and protection? By
imitating her. Impress on your minds the life of Mary, her
sentiments, her habits, her Immaculate Purity, her words, her
actions. Beg Our Divine Lord to imprint, with the fire of His
Divine Heart, Mary’s image on you, and to make you loving
models of His Immaculate Mother.

Mary is the Mysterious Book of Predestination to glory; she is
lovable, love her. She is sublime and glorious, praise her. She
is benign and merciful, appeal to her. Mary is your Mother,
Mistress and Foundress, obey and fulfil her desires. Mary speaks
to you plainly; listen to her, trust her with all your affections,
she will alienate them from creatures, and you, as angelic spirits,
will take refuge in the Heart of Jesus. Offer yourselves often to
Mary, pray, work, suffer, recreate yourselves, rest and walk with
Mary and beneath the gaze of Mary, and never sadden her in
the least.

Yesterday, to our great surprise, the Captain invited us to go
over the steamer. I should like to know how to describe the
complicated machinery of this great vessel, which transports
thousands of persons from the Old World to the New World.
The steam power used by the propeller when driving forward
this ship is that of fifteen thousand horses. The noise made by
the propeller when out of the water is great. I commend you to
Sister Frances whose knowledge of ships and their appurtenances
is more extensive than mine. She will give you more satisfactory
details than I am able. She will explain either out of the store
of her own knowledge, or by reference to ancient and modern
works on the subject. I can see quite a library of such books
spread out in her berth. I was advised to ask Sister Xavier for
information as she knows something of these things, but she
replied, “Those who want to know the sea, let them come and
see.” Sister Ignatius set out to give you a very full and learned
account of everything, but so far she has written not more than
four lines.

74

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

The Captain asked Father Mazzetti to celebrate Mass, but the
Father had not the necessary vestments, and we had no Hosts.
Taking advantage, however, of the Captain's exquisite kindness,
we all assembled, both passengers and Sisters, in the largest space
we could find and recited the Rosary, priests and passengers
alternately, just as we do in the Convent for our Benefactors.
This was followed by a sung Litany. We formed quite a fine
choir, and our voices, which filled the air, seemed to arouse in the
souls of those who stood around (no less than a thousand in num¬
ber) a host of pious sentiments. A beautiful sermon was given on
the day's Gospel by the Father, who spoke with great zeal and
emotion, touching the hearts of all and bringing tears to the eyes
of many. Then followed hymns to the Sacred Heart and Our Lady,
and other prayers. Owing partly to the religious habit of the
Father, which made him seem like Saint Anthony returned to life,
and partly to the solemnity of the devotions, our poor countrymen
almost thought they were in church, though there was not even a
Cross to be seen. After the Father's simple blessing, they accosted
us and asked us why we did not sing the “Tantum Ergo."

Now that the voyage is at an end, we feel it parting from these
poor people who trusted us so much and for whom we have been
able to do some good. Oh! if only we could again impress
upon them the happiness that awaits them if they are faithful to
prayer and to the Sacraments. If we could make them under¬
stand that Heaven is the great prize or reward granted to good
Christians, to those who are faithful to the laws of Jesus Christ!
Oh, Heaven! Who can conceive or express the inconceivable
delights that God has prepared for those who serve Him with that
internal and external worship He requires of us? The Holy
Prophet spoke well when he said, "Rejoice and be glad ye who
love the Lord." "Drink large draughts of that river of peace."
"Fill yourselves with joy, glory and happiness, because the Lord
has said: I shall pour upon Jerusalem celestial torrents of glory
that will inundate it with the purest consolations and delights."
On that most blessed Eternal Day we shall be rapt in ecstasies of
love and gratitude, and there will be an immense jubilee contem¬
plating God face to face. We shall be rapt in His infinite beauty,
illuminated by His light, inebriated by His peace, fortified by His
Divine Consolations, because to see God and to contemplate His

75

Genoa to New York — September, 1894

Divine Beauty means to love Him with the most pure and most
perfect love, and that love will augment in us joy and content¬
ment and the enjoyment of our souls. Speak often of Heaven to
those who approach you, make them love it as well as the virtues
which are required before we can be admitted to our blessed
country. For if you know how to draw souls there by your zeal,
your good example and your exemplary religious conduct, you
may be assured the Gates will be opened for you also.

I wanted to go to Heaven, but what with one thing and another
we have entered the New York Bay. The Superintendent of the
Customs House Officers and Doctor are all on board. We are
requested to give our names to a New York representative whilst
the Fulda is being towed down the bay by three tugs. We
disembarked at Hoboken Docks, where we were met by our dear
American Sisters, who received us with great joy. A Customs
Officer came up, marked our baggage and asked us to say a prayer
for him.

I found everything in perfect order here, with much to console
me. I cannot, for the present, give you further details, for I
have a great number of friends to greet. I will, however, send
you further news as soon as I embark on my next voyage.

In the meantime I commend myself to your good prayers, as
well as my intentions and new enterprises for the good of souls
and the glory of God. I’ll work hard and you’ll pray, I’m sure,
adding some extra sacrifices, especially that of self-abasement.
Offer everything as a perfect holocaust to the Adorable Heart of
Jesus, Who loves us so much and has done so much to merit for
us our beautiful and sublime vocation.

May Jesus bless you and enclose you in His Sacred Heart.

Your affectionate Mother in Corde Jesu,

Frances Saverio Cabrini.

CHAPTER VI

Orieand to j^t

1895

ananta

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

2Mh May, 1895.

My dear Daughters,

Peace be to you, so that you may always remain
in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I must keep my promise to devote all the time of my voyage in
describing the little adventures, with their impressions, which have
occurred, and, though the vessel is still sailing down the Mississippi,
I must fly across to you in the guise of a consoling angel to console
you with my visit. You, the chosen portions of Christ's flock, are
destined to console His Divine Heart; you, who by your work,
prayers and obedience, can procure the glory of that Heart, have
become by your precious vocation the chosen portion of my heart.

I travel, work, suffer, meet with a thousand difficulties, but all
these are nothing as long as you are faithful, observant and
generous, and prove yourselves true members of the Institute.
At four-thirty a.m. the alarm clock warned us it was time to arise
and finish packing. The Chaplain began Mass at five-thirty a.m.,
when we received the dearest token that we could carry away
with us—the Maker of the immense ocean we are about to cross.
After the reception of Our Divine Lord, calm and joyous. Mother
Gabriella and I started on our journey accompanied by our dear
Sisters and the distinguished lawyer, Mr. Marinoni, who at all
costs insisted upon accompanying us in his own carriage to the
steamer. We started off though the rain was falling in torrents
and the city so badly flooded that the horses could hardly make
their way along. It required great courage, which Mr. Marinoni
fortunately possessed, to overcome the difficulties that lay before
us, for he knew that in ordinary circumstances the steamer waits
for no one, and the time of departure was fixed for eight a.m.

77

78

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

However, Mr. Fallon, the distinguished representative of the
Company by whose line we are travelling, fearing we should not
get to the steamer in time, and not wishing us to lose our
connection, postponed the hour of departure by himself arriving
an hour and a half late, for he knew the steamer could not set out
until he had arrived on board. Of course, we never expected so
much consideration, but we arrived on the steamer at seven-thirty
a.m. Mr. Fallon is an excellent man. I shall never forget him
or be sufficiently grateful to him for his generosity towards us.
As soon as he heard of my arrival in New Orleans, he offered me
a free passage to Port Limon, a distance of only sixteen miles
from Colon, Panama, where our House is stationed, thus saving
me the expense of a hundred dollars (£20). He recommended us
to the Captain and Head Steward, and we have the best of every¬
thing, with a very kind staff which seems willing to do anything
for us.

May 25th, 1895. ‘'Man proposes, but God disposes.” This time
I was too sure of myself as well as the good Sisters, who had
prepared for me a large number of nice sharp pencils and ruled
paper, so that I might write a volume.

This time I am not as good a sailor as usual. Yesterday I did
my best not to give in and to do honours to the Captain's table,
but I never longed so much to get away, and was forced to
contradict my saying that I never suffer from sea-sickness. For-
tunate^ly I managed to stay on until the end of the meal, but
shortly after I became the faithful companion of Mother Gabriella
and had to resort to the expedient of lying very still. At the
moment of writing I am feeling much better, and to-morrow I
hope to be able to write more, though I cannot promise for fear of
not being able to keep my word. We must abandon ourselves
to God’s Holy Will, reposing in Him and promising all in Him.
How good the Sacred Heart is to us! What does He expect
from us for so much love? Nothing but a perfect trust in Him,
a continual endeavour to conform our lives with His crucified life,
taking Him as a model in all phases of life, walking in the path of
His holy love as becomes those consecrated to His Holy Service.
Blessed shall we be if we remain faithful to the Beloved of our
soul, putting Him in possession of our whole heart, our \ov% our

79

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

affections, our inclinations, our feelings. Know, children, the
Sacred Heart wants all or nothing. He wants no divided heart,
no divisions. Woe to us if we have anxious affections for
creatures or for ourselves. All must be placed in the Most Holy
Heart of Jesus, all without reserve.

26th May, I slept sweetly and profoundly in the Sacred Heart
of Jesus all last night, and I am feeling very well this morning
and quite myself again. The sun is shining in all its splendour,
but the heat of its rays is tempered by a pure and gentle breeze
which renders our cosy corner on deck a most delightful place.
The Captain has an awning put up especially for our comfort.
The sky is clear and covered with white clouds, which now and
then take the form of large shining masses. These clouds seem
to remind us of the Novena of the Holy Ghost, and that the
Sacred Heart of Jesus is calling us, as He did His Apostles of old
to come apart from the multitude, and even here in the middle of
the ocean, far away from the noise of the crowd, to implore the
coming of the Holy Ghost. Our loving Saviour has promised to
send the Holy Spirit, but we know also that the Divine promises
are fulfilled by means of prayer and in the exercise of sublime
charity and union with God.

Though Charity signifies that form of union which necessarily
unites all members of Religious Orders, nevertheless there is
another union which each one should possess within herself. Our
Divine Lord said that prayer is heard when two are united in His
name—for example, when the exterior man and interior man are
united; the soul and the body; the subjection of the body to
the spirit; these two must join together. So, to pray we must
unite the body with its feelings to the soul with its imaginations
and desires, with its superior powers, memory, understanding and
will. Christ then shall be in your midst, united in His name,
helping you to pray with efficacy. He cannot pray whose soul
is in disorder, whose mind is wandering with a thousand useless,
vain and anxious thoughts. The Spirit of God shuns, such a soul,
and so the poor soul, deprived of help from on high, languishes
little by little and gradually loses the spirit of prayer.

Is it necessary for us to make the Novena of the Holy Ghost?
Our Lady made it; the Apostles and the disciples made it, by

80

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

command of Jesus Christ. This shows, therefore, the need we
have of making it, especially if we want to possess the fervour of
the early Christians, that spirit which makes us true followers of
Christ and true Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Oh! if only
devotion to the Holy Ghost inflamed the world, then should we
see the face of the earth renewed, and Faith and Charity would
triumph over everything. “Emitte spiritum tuum et creabuntur
Et renovabis faciem terrae.’'

If you desire to correct your faults, and you feel that you cannot;
if you languish with tepidity and it seems you can do no good, but,
still you wish to be fervent, try to be devout to the Holy Ghost,
invoking Him often and with your whole hearts. Excite in your¬
selves strong desires to receive Him, repeat often to Him ‘‘Cor
mundum crea in me, Deus, et Spiritum rectum innova in visceribus
meis. Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui, et spiritu principali confirma
me.'’ If you invoke Him with a humble and trusting heart, filled
with good desires, He will descend with His blessed light and
inflaming fire; He will come and penetrate into the very centre
of your heart, purifying it, changing it, enlightening it, inflaming
it, and consuming it with the flames of His holy and divine love.

As soon as we begin to desire Him, He begins to favour us,
because pious and holy desires are like the forerunners of God in
the soul, and as soon as we, by the grace of God, form a holy
desire, the Holy Ghost, as Saint Paul says, will work in us and by
us with ineffable sighs. Let us suplicate Him, then, to inspire
us with ardent desires which will prepare us to receive Him.

You, dear daughters, know what weight our desires have with
the Heart of Jesus, because many and great and special are the
graces that the Omnipotent has given you from that first moment
that you longed to consecrate yourself totally to His Divine Service.
You, yourselves, surrounded and weighed down, I might say, by
the sweet weight of so many and innumerable graces received
from Him, often exclaim, “Why so much grace and this foretaste
of Heaven?" It was our loving Lord, wounded in the depths
of His Divine Heart by your ardent desire of being His without
reserve, and making Him loved and known to all, even at the cost
of life itself. Who put before your eyes, like a victorious army in
battle array, this immense number of singular benefits and special
graces that He lovingly bestows upon you so that you are capti-

81

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

vated by the strong ties of His ardent love for you. And that
Lord Who had destined you all for Himself, listening to your
sublime desires, how lovingly does He not watch over you continu¬
ally ? What lights, knowledge and holy affections does He not
give you? He surrounds you with Holy Fear, He uproots from
your heart the love of earthly things, He encloses you in His Holy
and Divine Love, He frees you from the snares of the infernal
dragon. He strengthens you when falling. He raises you and
re-establishes you in your original state of peace. How consoling
is the thought of God’s goodness! The Holy Prophet David
mentions very often in his psalms the kindness of God, awakening
in his own heart deep sentiments of gratitude; he, whose heart
was made like unto the beautiful heart of God. Yes, every grace
which you have received is a special token of God’s love for you ;
the multiplicity and frequency of graces does not diminish, but,
rather, increases the value and renders it more valuable.

Blessed will you be, my daughters, if, knowing the gifts of God,
you render yourselves more worthy to receive greater gifts.

Know that gratitude for God’s benefits is one of the riches of
the soul, and that, on the contrary, ingratitude dries up the
fountain of Divine graces. Give your tribute of gratitude often
to the most loving Jesus. Consider with frequency the graces,
both general and particular, that you have received, taking a
retrospective view of your lives. If you meditate well, you will
perceive the torrents of these salutary waters of Divine grace
which have inundated your soul at the various stages and different
circumstances of your past lives. With how much care has not
the most dear Jesus always watched over you! How admirably
He guided you in the way of eternal Salvation! For you God
has worked many wonders because He loves you well, but remem¬
ber that all He has done for you up to the present is but a slight
pledge of His great love for you. If you are faithful in His Holy
Service, He will work new wonders in you.

Be faithful to what you have undertaken, try to understand the
prodigies of love which God has worked in you, learn the language
of the Saints, who, on gazing at the heavens, earth and sea, and
the starry firmament, repeated within themselves that holy refrain,
“Love God and serve Him with fidelity.” Oh, how great and
wonderful is God in all His works! How we should love Him,

82

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

my dear daughters! But whilst I am speaking the steamer is
sailing rapidly through the waves, almost carried by a very
favourable wind.

We have traversed a long stretch of sea in the meantime, and I
have passed Cuba without having noticed it, as this steamer is going
straight from New Orleans to Port Limon. We are very fortunate
this time in not having to visit there, owing to the war which is
going on, for we might be suspected as enemies and fired upon,
as was done to an American torpedo vessel. We are in mid-ocean,
surrounded by the immensity of the sea and a very vast horizon.
The waves are mild and placid; they are like an obedient soul
responding to the order of the Supreme Maker, who bids them
leave us quiet during this voyage.

The first day of our voyage I said the waters of the Mississippi
were like those of the ocean, and now I say that those of the ocean
are like those of the Mississippi. The steamer is long and narrow,
and consequently sails rapidly, but we experience some straight
rocking now and then when the wind is very strong. Yesterday
the sea was somewhat rough, and the waves gave us a little
sprinkling in the face. I paid no attention to this improvised
shower, knowing that a sea spray is always beneficial, and that
people go to great expense to enjoy sea bathing. However, last
night I felt my face all contracted. At first I couldn't imagine what
it was, but this morning I found my face all swollen and of a scarlet
red. How funny! I never expected such a thing. Did I not
feel well, I might imagine that I had erysipelas and so withdraw
from the fresh air. But, seeing that I have never had such a
disease I regard this as a little trick of the sea, by way of a
change, and I remain on deck enjoying the most pure air, this
immense gift of God, which refreshes me both spiritually and
physically.

27th day. The day is gorgeous; the sea is very quiet, the
steamer is sailing rapidly, with no movement, respecting, as it were,
our weakness.

Notwithstanding all this. Mother Gabriella will not get up, for
only by lying down can she avoid being sea-sick. As soon as she
feels a little better she comes to keep me company. She is,
however, always smiling and calm. We have the Captain's servant.

83

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

who is eager to please us and gives us everything we need.
As to myself, I am a perfect fright, face all swollen, eyes closed,
and a face as red as scarlet. On board there is no doctor, no
infirmarian, no one who understands about illnesses, not even
a veterinary such as Saint Francis Xavier once met. I cannot
make out what it is ; I have no temperature, I do not feel
sick, nor am I afraid. So I have decided to remain on deck and
watch the beautiful fish that play on the waves, and enjoy the
pleasure of writing to you as long as I am able before my swollen
eyes are closed altogether.

Why should I be afraid of travelling under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, for we are still within His Novena and in the company
of the Apostles under the immediate direction of the Most Holy
Virgin, our tender Mother? Then, again, have I not the blessing
of the Holy Father that accompanies, strengthens and consoles
me? As if His own personal blessing was not enough before my
leaving. He again blessed me through the illustrious and most
reverend Monsignor Radini Tedeschi, which fact encourages me
more than ever in these voyages and Missions, which the Most
Sacred Heart extends and enlarges to His greater glory every
day.

Frequently I cross the seas, with the rapidity allowed by the
progress of science, which every day provides the most rapid
steamers, but, believe me, they are very slow indeed when com¬
pared with the rapidity with which the Sacred Heart works in His
Vineyard. How fruitful is the blessing of the Holy Father! I would
wish everyone to understand this, and put confidence in the Pope.
Who is the Holy Father? He is the representative of God, of His
authority and His majesty amongst men. The Holy Father is the
instrument of the Holy Spirit; the depository of the treasures and
secrets of God. He is the Key of Knowledge for the Christian
People! he has in his keeping the power to loose and bind sin. The
voice of the Holy Father is the voice of God; his word is the word
of God. He is the living ark of the new alliance in which is found
the Divine Law, the Manna of Celestial Doctrine, the precious vase
of gold, in which is contained the purity of the Catholic Faith.
The Pope is the guide of the people, the ark of salvation for all.
He, in the name of Jesus Christ, has the virtue to raise and save
Society from its sickness and oppression, if only it will allow itself

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to be cured and healed by him. This work has already begun in
the country of the Angels—England—and is now going on in
America, where a great number of Protestants revere, respect
and venerate the Holy Father. How often, even in the midst of
'Catholics, one hesitates to mention the Holy Father for fear of
hearing his august person insulted, but it is not so to-day among
Protestants. I have had personal proof of this, for the best news
I could give the twelve doctors of our Hospital in New York was
that I had the blessing and encouragement of the Holy Father.
So also a number of pious objects blessed by the Holy Father were
the gifts most appreciated by some Protestant people.

Believe me, my dear daughters, there are many Protestants who
have almost the same practices as we, only they do not see their
way to submit to the Holy Father, and attach themselves to the
true Ark of Salvation; but the hour seems to be drawing near.
Pray, then, pray that these good brethren of ours may understand
thoroughly the celestial relations that exist between Jesus Christ
and the Holy Father, that they may ally themselves to him,
belong to the same family, the same fold, under the one shepherd,
the universal pastor through whom we are united by the express
will of God. Pray, then, pray with your whole hearts, and, as
true Missionaries, offer yourselves as victims to the Sacred Heart
to obtain such a grace, so that while the harvest is growing the
enemy may not sow cockle.

But if these people wish to enter the true fold, the pastors, who
are not real pastors but mercenaries, are not of the same mind.
I mean the non Catholic ministers. I should never finish naming
them if I continued. These do not want to become Catholics and
to unite themselves under the banner of truth wherein alone there
is true salvation. Why ? Because they are not validly ordained and
cannot unite themselves with the Church like the simple faithful,
and because also they are afraid of losing their lucrative positions.
You may imagine, then, how they try to keep their followers away
from the Catholic Church, so as not to lose them and their own
huge salaries. We must, therefore, pray much that the Holy Spirit
may enlighten each individual soul, in order that all, in the presence
of the brilliant light of the Divine Sun, knowing and confessing the
one true Faith, the supreme truth, in union with the H'^ly Father,

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895 85

may be cured of their false ideas and aspirations, and brought to
see the error of their wrong tendencies and desires.

Pray much without tiring, because the salvation of these people
does not depend on material force, nor on the vain science that
clouds and darkens the intellect; neither does it depend on arms
and human industries, nor on sterile and diplomatic congresses, nor
on worldly or earthly means. The grace of their salvation can
only come from the Heart of that Supreme Pastor Who called
together the Apostles, and promised grace and blessings to all their
successors who remained faithful to the foundation rock, the Holy
Father.

Pray much, dear daughters, for the Sisters who are scattered in
the various Missions of the United States, that the good God may
assist and enlighten them and render their work fruitful in the
conversion of many souls. Yes! pray much during the Hour of
Adoration, because if our efforts and our words are not made
fruitful by Jesus, we shall never do any good. The conversion
of sinners and the sanctification of souls does not depend on sterile
cold human eloquence, or the grace of style and flowery rhetoric,
but on the fructifying grace of Jesus Christ. Jesus alone can give
life to words and arguments. He enlightens the mind, moves the
will, sows virtue, and animates us to undertake holy and perfect
works.

And it is Jesus Himself Who speaks through the voice that
teaches with zeal and faith. Who works prodigies in souls, renews
miracles and performs wonders. With what wisdom does the
good God work in the heart of man! He respects our liberty,
but enlightens with truth and divine light, moves and invites all
to the celestial reward. Yes! dear daughters, it is Jesus our
Beloved, Who by His death conquered hell and sin and won from
His Heavenly Father, as His inheritance, all peoples. How con¬
soling to think that we and all the people we would like to convert
are the Kingdom of Christ, the hereditary portion, the most precious
inheritance of Jesus! And how Jesus rejoices in the conversion of
one sinful soul! What joy does not the recovery of one sheep give
to His Divine Heart? How He clasps it in His loving arms!
And can we not multiply these joys of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
by our prayers, works, and the winning over of hearts and souls
who will love Him much? Let us imitate the charity of the

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Adorable Heart of Jesus in the salvation of souls, and make our¬
selves all to all to win all to Jesus. If we act thus, what a harvest
of virtues and merits we shall reap; for what we do to these souls,
God considers as done to Himself. He marks in the book of life
all the trials, troubles and crosses that we suffer for the salvation
and sanctification of souls. He enumerates the days, hours and
moments that we spend in this holy exercise, and all will be fully
rewarded by the sovereign goodness of the Most Holy Heart of
Jesus. Even a charitable word spoken will be amply remunerated
because everything done for Jesus and with Jesus is great.

2Sth day. Yesterday, at mid-day, my eyes were almost closed
by the swelling, and I had to stop writing. To-day the swelling
has greatly diminished, but there are white blisters on my forehead
which give me the appearance of a leper. How strange and wonder¬
ful! No one here can tell me what it is, but it is consoling to
abandon oneself to the most Adorable and most Loving Heart of
Jesus, for whilst we are far away from our Sisters, and between
the sky and water where no human comfort can reach us, we
know that the Heart of Jesus watches over His Spouses just the
same. To-morrow we shall arrive at Port Limon, and, through
the kind offices of some good people there to whom we have been
recommended by our excellent protector, Mr. L. G. Fallon, I
expect I shall find some remedy for this complaint. If we can reach
Panama, where our house is situated, then Mother Gabriella's
anxiety will cease, for she is quite upset about it, as she does not
know what to do for me.

Yesterday, at three p.m., we passed by the Iwan Island, which
means the Isle of Big Wings, and some call it a big bird. It belongs
to the United States, and is inhabited by fifty men, who spend the
greater part of the year fishing. Last night we passed near some
very dangerous shoals. The steamer seemed as if it would capsize.
The night was very dark, and fear made it appear darker. With all
this, we remained very quiet in our cabins, resting as best we could,
for the vessel rocked very much. We had no reason to fear, for the
Captain had informed us of all that was likely to happen, for he
had to stop the steamer to measure the depth of the sea, so as to
be sure where he was sailing. Moreover, he told us he was staying
up all night, and that the crew would be up and about also. We

Nczv Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

87

could afford to remain quiet, for the Captain is a very trustworthy
man. He is a Swede, his name Welin, and he is a capable and
respectable man. He has travelled right around the world, and
almost always in the capacity of Captain of a steamer. The crew
is mostly Swedish also, and I regret Tm unable to speak to them of
religion, because they have no one to remind them, when we part,
to attend to their religious duties. I gave them a small medal
which they received with great devotion and regard as a great
treasure, even those who are Protestants. I told them the medals
were blessed by the Holy Father, which pleased them more, and
they put them away very carefully so as to find them during
storms. The Swedes have many good qualities. They are sober,
simple, courteous, intelligent, and have great respect and venera¬
tion for us Religious, and when at eventide they hear us sing the
Veni Creator for the Novena of the Holy Ghost, the Ave Maris
Stella and other hymns to the Blessed Virgin Mary, they become
reverently attentive, and there seems to be a ray of Heaven falling
on their souls. Poor men! What a pity we cannot instruct them.

This morning, at nine a.m., we passed by the Cape of ‘‘Deo
Gratias,’* almost touching it, where the coast of Mosquitia begins,
and a little later we seemed to enter a new sea of bright green
colours. It was the current of Rio Grande, a current that plunges
with such force into the sea that for several miles it seems to
struggle in its efforts to mix with the salty water. At present
we are coasting, and will presently pass by Bluefields, then to¬
morrow by S. Juan del Norte, and at eleven a.m., please God,
we shall arrive at Port Limon. I never thought I should have
made such a journey, being under the impression that this steamer
travelled a direct route, but the Captain told me at lunch time
that a direct line was impossible as he had to encounter many
coral banks which are very dangerous. I am pleased we are
coasting, and I should have wished to remain a few days at
each of these ports, for I like these Indians, having visited
them three years ago on my return from Nicaragua. Then I
was making a much more uncomfortable voyage than this, for
while passing S. Juan del Norte, before entering the sea, I had
to change steamers nine times in twelve days, while at night we
never travelled for fear of running aground. In Rio it once
happened that owing to the vessel not being able to advance, we

88 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

had to travel by canoes (poor barques), and to make things worse,
it was all under a downpour of rain from which we could find no
shelter, as there was none to be had. In other small vessels in
Rio San Juan there were nests of mice and other vermin, most
amusing to watch, but as I could not make friends with such
adventurers, I was obliged for several nights to stand and lean
against a sofa, the only form of rest I could trust myself to take
in such company. In the meantime. Sister Mercedes Cepeda and
I were quite happy and making the best of these experiences.. We
were well repaid, however, for when we arrived at Bluefields we
had to wait several hours for a steamer of the Morgan Line which
was to take us to the United States. There is no church here,
no priest to invite a few times a year to visit these Indians of the
Riviera Mosquitia, who are considered little better than beasts by
the Government, and whom the Church as yet has not been able
to reach. Taking advantage of this stop, we went around to the
Indians, and spoke a few kind words to these poor people, who
overcoming their shyness and yielding to their respect for the
‘‘Black Robes,'' as they call the Sisters and Priests, they begged
us to send them also Sisters and Priests to instruct them and
save them. The poor things! How I felt for them! I would
have opened a House at once had I the means to do so. Oh, if
I could but open the purses of many of the rich to whom the good
God has given so liberally of this earth's treasures! If I could
only make them understand what a reward theirs would be, if,
prompted by their own good heart, they would come to our aid
in succouring these poor creatures who still live in darkness. By
so doing they would be placing their generous offerings in the
Bank of Heaven, where they would fructify a hundredfold, if not
in this world, certainly in the next, and their generosity would
make them happy with an eternal felicity in Heaven, where God
has prepared a profusion of immense treasures for the merciful.

Yesterday, between one interval and another, we saw another
part of the coast which kept us in admiration of its beauty until
evening. Meanwhile, I have stopped the description which I began
with such eagerness. Have patience, if I am obliged to cut my
narrative short, for the port is within sight, and it seems to move
to meet us. There lies in front of it an island called Paseo. This
island is so called because it is a pleasure resort where the people

89

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

of Port Limon spend their holidays. A lighthouse stands in the
centre. From afar it appears like a gigantic statue, with a large
chest, red vest, a black head and a white hat. Here and there
we notice some nice houses, well built with verandahs, after
the Chinese style. These, in the midst of the variegated green of
the country around, create a pretty sight, together with a delight¬
ful promenade and a rest resort.

Here we are at last in port. Two tenders approach, one with
the Doctor and an uncle of the President of Costa Rica, the other
with the representative of the Government and other gentlemen.
The first ones to examine everyone and everything, the others
to satisfy their curiosity.

The Doctor looked me up and down from head to foot. As I
had not shut myself up in my cabin, but remained in the fresh air
on deck, my leprous appearance has disappeared, and my skin
has been completely renewed, just as fine and as soft as silk,
giving me a complexion which I never had before. This caused
the Doctor to say, ‘‘All right,^* “tutto bene.’’ When the visit was
over, the Captain and other persons came to offer us their services
whilst we waited for the steamer which was to convey us to Colon
for Panama. An uncle of the President, Dr. De Castro, suggested
that whilst we waited for the steamer we might as well go to
San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, for three reasons—namely,
because Limon was unhealthy, secondly because he had a Sister,
very pious and good, who would be very happy to see us, and
lastly because we should thus be spared hotel expenses. It was
impossible to refuse such kindness, and so I promised to go after
a day’s rest. The Captain offered us the hospitality of his vessel,
but a large quantity of bananas destined for New Orleans compelled
him to leave Limon the next day. The English representative here
having had a letter from Mr. Fallon, recommending us to his care
obtained for us one of the best places in the hotel, and then went
to get a free passage for us to S. Jose. This was a very agreeable
favour, as otherwise it would have cost us eight pesos each, which
according to the exchange would be eighty lire. Mr. De Castro
had already given us a letter of recommendation to his sister;
and we had already asked the owner of the hotel, who was an
excellent Italian, to take care of our luggage and to wake us at
four-thirty a.m., as the train would leave at six a.m., when

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Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

suddenly a representative of the Governor appeared and told us
he had received orders from the Government to prevent our
entering the interior of the country, the Government having passed
a bill which forbade the entrance of Jesuits, and Sisters bearing
the title of the Sacred Heart. I laughed heartily at the idea. I
asked to see the Governor, whose residence is quite near the hotel.
We went, and he received us with the greatest kindness, telling
us how to get the order withdrawn. I told him I would make
no effort whatsoever, as I had no need of visiting the country,
but that I was very sorry, or, rather, regretted that a country
that boasted of so much progress had such retrograde laws, which
were contrary to the liberty about which they spoke so much,
and inhuman, forcing me to remain in an unhealthy place which
might prove detrimental to the health of my companion who for
the first time was visiting the tropical regions. The Governor
was greatly impressed, and that evening, when the leaders of
the place came together, they all spoke and discussed the affair
whilst we remained quiet and contented, looking forward to
receive Holy Communion the following morning, which was Friday
and the last day of the month of Mary. Who had caused all this
commotion ?

A Freemason, who, as soon as he saw two Sisters on board the
ship, made enquiries and then telegraphed to the Police to prevent
our entering the country. To-day everyone is looking down upon
him for acting so inhumanly towards two ladies. The more
sensible minds are doing all they can to obtain a permit for us to
visit any part of the Republic we wish, so as not to let us leave
the country with such an unfavourable impression. I told them
it would now be useless, as we were leaving for our destination
soon.

Here, however, we were able to perform our little devotions,
even closing the month of May in a small country church, which is
kept very nicely by the parish priest, who is a member of the
Mission of Saint Vincent de Paul.

The only church-goers are the converted negroes from Jamaica.
The natives go to church but very seldom, and some never, it
being a tradition of the last century that church-going is not good
for those who claim, as they do, to be '"adelantandose cada dia,’'
i.e., making daily progress. What a pity! What a misfortune

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

91

that they should have departed from the good spirit, the charac¬
teristic spirit of the Spanish race! And all this has been brought
about by the terrible Masonic influence which moves and dominates
everything and everybody more and more in these countries.
The devil has placed his throne very comfortably there and
extends his net in thick darkness, as seen once by Saint Anthony,
and he really catches a great many fish without much trouble,
because to these poor things the word ‘‘progress’^ is like a siren,
which allures them and offers them the hidden poison which leads
them backwards instead of forwards.

The closing of the month of May was lovely. In the morning,
when High Mass was over, a procession took place during which
was sung the Litany, and at three p.m., after some hymns, the
parish priest delivered a touching sermon full of devotion and
piety. Our Lady was crowned by a child dressed in white and
wearing a wreath of flowers, after which the mothers brought
their children to the altar to have them blessed by the priest,
and then every child presented a flower to Our Lady. It is lovely
to see these women in their best dresses of gorgeous colours, with
very short waists, and skirts so long that the train measures a yard
and a half. Their turbans are of such contrasting colours and
their faces resembled ebony. Some were tattoed.

The children were dressed either in variegated colours or in
white, which clashed with their black faces and black hands, but
their souls were truly white for their innocence and simplicity.
Mary seemed to rejoice and extend Her Heavenly Mantle over
these people.

But I forgot to tell you about our lodgings. Well, we have a
room which has a balcony looking west and another looking east,
and both are so well placed as to afford us opportunities for
precious contemplation, just as we had on the ocean. On one
side we have the immense gulf, with beautiful and green gondolas,
not for fishermen, as these people care little for fishing, but for
carrying passengers backwards and forwards to the land. Some
shoals right in front of the balcony cause the water to break into
foaming waves which roar like the Falls of Niagara. On the other
side stands the park, with groves and fountains, worthy certainly
of a greater city, and hardly to be expected in a small country as
this; but, as they say, ''se adelantan cada dia,’' so, to show their

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Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

progress, it is necessary to have parks and fountains that foreigners
may admire. Meanwhile we enjoy a pure and refreshing breeze.
You may imagine what I mean when I say the thermometer at
New Orleans is at 28 degrees, here it marks 25 degrees, but, when
the doors and windows are closed, it exceeds 30 degrees (centi¬
grade).

It is said that this is a country of fever, but we have been
assured by the doctors, who have become our friends these days,
that it is a very healthy country, where people suffering from
lung complaints come to be cured. We keep really well, but we
regret to be here doing nothing, seeing that we are only a sixteen
hours’ journey from our Sisters in Panama, where we would love
to fly. I hope to be with them soon, and to receive through them
and their merits an abundance of the gifts and fruits of the Holy
Ghost, for which I hunger and of which I feel in great need; but
we must resign ourselves to remain here at Port Limon and to
receive the Holy Ghost here. Blessed Will of God, how dear and
amiable Thou art when Thou revealest Thyself with so much
clearness! When we take a little walk to speak to the negroes,
who listen to us with so much pleasure, we always go down to
the dock and almost beg the boats to sail off at once to Panama.
But none of them take heed, and, leaving one after another for
other directions, seem to say, ‘‘Have patience I Clip the wings of
your ardent desires.” In the meantime, the vessel, which is destined
to convey us to Panama and which is in port, the Royal Mail can¬
not approach land owing to its vast size and the shallowness of the
water.

June To-day, to the spiritual view of the soul a most
beautiful and sublime subject commends itself . . . The dear
month of June is at hand, in which we all united, both far and wide,
and animated by the same faith, will honour the Sacred Heart of
Jesus, in order to make reparation for so much ingratitude, about
which He complained to His beloved Margaret. This is the
month of love, and love ought to transform us all. But what are
the necessary means for obtaining this transformation? The first
is to approach the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a spirit of humility
and confidence; the second is to let grace work in us, following
its impulses with fidelity and constancy. The good Jesus, through

Neiv Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

93

the goodness of His Divine Heart, makes known to us our ugliness
and our misery; but we should not fly away frightened by the
knowledge we receive of ourselves, we should rather humble our¬
selves and beg God to free us from our misery. Be not discouraged
at seeing yourselves so far from the perfection of Holy Love,
because Jesus desires to grant it to you, to help you in your own
efYorts. It suffices if we have recourse to Him with a sincere desire
to correspond with His graces and to trust entirely to His Love.
Let us throw ourselves into the blessed flames of the most Sacred
Heart of Jesus, and let that holy fire burn into our spirit, so that
it may destroy, purify, renew and sanctify all our thoughts, affec¬
tions, sentiments, intentions and desires. What have we to fear if
the most Sacred Heart protects us? And what may we not hope
for, if we confide in the Heart of such a compassionate and power¬
ful Father? Let us fix our gaze on the Wound of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus. We shall read in characters of blood the height and depth
of the love that He bears us, and we shall always feel, wherever we
are, comforted in hoping for everything from His infinite goodness.
Very often our prayers are imperfect and deserve to be rejected
by God; but the loving Heart of Jesus sanctifies them. He Himself
asks for us that which He sees will be for our greater good, and
compassionately covers our unworthiness with His merits.

In the secrecy of the Holy Tabernacle the loving Heart of Jesus
takes note of our needs in order to help us, and waits for nothing
more than to see us at His feet, full of confidence, uniting our
prayers with His. Recall often what Jesus said to Saint Gertrude,
His Beloved, “Here is My Heart, avail yourself of It to make
good what is deficient in your prayers.’’ Another time. Saint
Gertrude, full of love, made a fervent prayer (and this is especially
good for the Missionary) in which she declared that if it were
necessary to travel the whole world barefooted till the Day of
Judgment, in order to lead all men to the Heart of Jesus, she would
have done so with her whole heart, and would have carried every
one of them in her arms so as to satisfy, at least in part, the
infinite desires of His sweet Divine Love. Even more, if it were
possible, she would divide her heart into as many parts as were
necessary to give a portion to all men on earth, and thus infuse
into them the good desire to serve God, and thus give perfect joy
to Flis Divine Heart. Then Jesus appeared to her showing her

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the gift He was about to give her, in the form of a very rich
treasure sent by the Holy Trinity, and whilst this gift appeared
to rise in the heavens, the Angels seemed to prostrate themselves
before Him.

She knew, then, that when prayers and holy desires are offered
to God, the whole celestial court receives and raises them to His
throne, as gifts most pleasing to God, and that when to one’s
merits the merits of Jesus Christ are joined, the very Saints them¬
selves respect them. Let us fly, fly, dear children, often to the
Tabernacle—as the hart panteth after the fountains of clear water.
As long as we live in this exile, far from the heavenly country, let
us not rest, but labour until we repose in the Heart of Him Whom
we love so ardently, as true Spouses and Missionaries of the Sacred
Heart. Let us always go to His Divine Heart, think of Him, fly
to Him, sigh for Him alone and always, because the vehemence
of His love for us, is truly wonderful.

By the words of consecration said by the priest in the name of
Jesus, the bread is changed or transubstantiated into the body of
Jesus, and so the body and blood are present under the appearances
of bread and of wine by a miracle of the Omnipotent. After the
Consecration, the substance of the bread and wine disappear, the
appearances only remaining, like so many veils of love and wisdom
to hide from our material eyes our glorious Lord’s presence, as
also to supply motives for faith, confidence and courage in receiving
our Divine Lord into our hearts. As long as the species remains,
so long does the Sacramental Presence last; as soon as the species
is consumed, the most Sacred Body retires and vanishes. Nothing
but wonders are worked on the Altar. The priests, who, during
the twenty-four hours, offer the Divine Sacrifice in so many coun¬
tries, towns and villages all the world over, are innumerable, and
thus in a hundred thousand places Jesus is present in the Sacrament
of His Love. Could there be an invention more beautiful and more
holy than the Institution of this Most Divine Sacrament? Could
the Loving Jesus show us a greater tenderness of love? But
remember, daughters, that this most Holy Sacrament is like the
column of fire that lighted and guided the Israelites to the Promised
Land, yet proved dark for the Egyptians. This mystery of the
Holy Eucharist is like that of the Cross, a scandal to the impious

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895 95

and the wise of this world, but to humble believers a source of
virtue and of the wisdom of God.

Only to the humble and docile of mind and heart are revealed,
by the Celestial Father, these ineffable and incomprehensible truths
of the Most Holy Sacrament. Such only shall receive these truths
into their hearts, because they have received them humbly into
their minds first. Such alone, therefore, enjoy the sweetness and
richness of this august Mystery of Wisdom and Love.

These precious pearls are hidden from the wise and prudent of
the world. Unfortunate creatures! These pearls have been
spread under their eyes, but they do not perceive them; they hear
them spoken of, but they do not understand; the reason is that
they lack the sense of humble faith and dutiful love, hence their
ears are deaf. Oh, if everyone understood what a treasure we
have in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, what greatness,
richness, sweetness and joy they would possess! But to draw
down the mercy of God on the earth, so that all may join the
Holy Catholic Church, the Tree of Life, and be saved, what can
we do, we Missionaries? We are so poor, capable of nothing,
and move in a circle too restricted to permit of being able to
help such a large number of souls. We can, however, make
frequent and fervent Communions, and by this means we shall
obtain everything for these poor sinners, our brethren. We
are unworthy, but approaching our dear Jesus and receiving Him,
He will give us the kiss of peace, and whilst we give Him our
filial affection. He will warm us with His love, purify us with His
blood, vivify us with His breath and decorate and enrich us
with His graces. ^Tn me manet et ego in eo.*'

Our Thanksgiving for Holy Communion, dear daughters, should
be long, very long; indeed, it should never finish, because it is
the continuation of daily Communion. Entertaining myself with
God sacramentally, the more I know Him the more clearly I per¬
ceive His greatness and perfections. Having this Blessed Presence
in myself, it stands to reason that I shall frequently receive the
Holy Sacrament. Knowing God, I love Him, and in thanks¬
giving the spirit of God raises me above the things of this earth ;
it introduces me into the Blessed Oasis of growing grace and of
the Beatitudes. He opens His breast and shows me His Beautiful

96

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Heart burning with charity, and He says, “See how I burn with
love for Thee! How much I love thee”!

3rd Day, Yesterday we had a visit from the most loyal and
dearest friend, the Holy Ghost. He loves us tenderly, immensely
and continually. We, the portion and inheritance of Jesus Christ,
washed and purified in His Blood, have become the living temples
of the Holy Ghost; that is, living members and the abode of the
Divine Paraclete.

The Holy Ghost, who descended for the first time on the
Apostles, always descends upon the Church and upon our souls,
because it is our good and most beloved Jesus Who has merited
for us the precious gift of the Holy Ghost, by Whom we become
rich in grace and in every celestial virtue.

How pleasing it is to the Holy Ghost to see zealous souls that
seek to spread the Kingdom of Jesus Christ! We give Divine
homage when we convert a sinner, or make known more clearly
and more distinctly the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Work, work
indefatigably, without tiring, for the salvation of souls. May the
Holy Spirit work in you, pray with you and communicate to you
His lights, graces and treasures. If you are zealous. He will
really enlighten you with His Divine Light. He will assist you
in your works and trials. He will support you in danger, defend
you from internal and external enemies, and strengthen you by
His virtue. Have faith, great faith; faith and confidence, and
pray constantly. The Holy Spirit, with His immense Charity,
will then diffuse Himself into your hearts and in your souls in
order to make them stronger with His own fortitude. “Ignem veni
mittere in terram, et quid volo nisi ut accendatur?”

Yesterday the Holy Spirit wanted to console us even materially,
for we received many visits from people whom came to sympathise
with us on account of the insult, as they regarded it, which we
received on our first visit to this port. They did their utmost to
make us forget it, fearing that we might publish it in the papers.

Two representatives of the President called upon us to apologise,
saying it was all a misunderstanding, and that we could go to the
capital and everywhere, and that we would be very welcome.
They begged us to prolong our stay, and by way of inducement
offered us a ticket, good for twelve days, so that we might travel

97

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

at our own leisure. But we were too anxious to leave for Panama
at once, and so, after thanking them most courteously for the
great favour offered us, we took the steamer for Panama on the
4th. The ticket was made out in my name, and I am keeping it
to show you, on my return, the exquisite kindness of the people
of Costa Rica.

But here favours still continue. Seeing everyone so very
kind, I was able to obtain a free passage, or at least at a very
reduced rate, from Port Limon to Colon. I spoke to several, and
finally to the Captain of the steamer. The City of Para, especially
mentioning to him how kind Mr. Fallon had been to give me a
free passage from New Orleans to Port Limon. He listened to
me attentively, and after some time returned, saying he could
not obtain the favour, but that I could take the cheapest ticket
and that he would see that I was treated as a 1st class passenger.
I did this, and one could see the joy in his face at being able to
confer a favour on Religious. He was not content until he sent
his own tender to conduct us and our luggage on board. May
the Sacred Heart of Jesus bless this good English Captain and
his family with graces, spiritual and temporal, for his generosity
towards us.

4th Day, Here we are on board the Royal Mail steamer. City
of Para. She is turning round on the way to Colon. What a
pleasant sight of the Cordigliera with its high mountains, and the
wonderful declivities and points, its aged plants and its carpet of
variegated green. We cannot enjoy very much this scenery as the
sun is setting, and night falls at once to the almost complete
absence of twilight in these regions.

As is customary with all steamers as they steer out of port, the
dinner bell rings, and so we must leave this delightful scenery to
answer the call. This time we have a most exquisite dinner, as
it is done d la mode Italienne. But how does this come about,
seeing we are traveling in an English steamer? There are four
Italian cooks, Milanese and Piedmontese. Having seen we are
Italians, and perceiving the favour which the Captain shows us,
they also desire to favour us, and in doing so everybody on board
benefits, for the Italian cooking is very much appreciated. If
the Italians would make themselves respected in matters of religion

98

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

and morals, as they really could do if they wished, how much
better off they would be; Italy would become the great nation it
merits to be, instead of being despised as it is now by everyone.

To-day, amongst other favours, we received a visit from His
Lordship, the Bishop of Costa Rica, the great champion of the
Church, Monsignor Thihel, whom I had the pleasure of meeting
four years ago when passing on to Nicaragua with the Sisters,
through the port of Punta Arenas. He came then to see us and
to bless us. Now he came as a friend, having formed a closer
relationship with our Institute, consequent upon his several visits
to Rome. He came to ask us to open a House in his diocese.
He wanted the Sisters who had been exiled from Nicaragua, but
it is too late, for, passing through Panama, they were detained,
and, with the approbation of the Mother House, they opened a
new school there under the highest auspices. I was very pleased
with the holy Prelate’s visit, and only regretted I had not been
able to prevent it, as of course I ought to have visited him first.
If I had not been prohibited from entering the capital, San Jose,
I should of course have called on His Lordship.

But now, I hear someone asking what was the reason for which
our Sisters were exiled from Nicaragua. Do not wonder, for as
yet these countries are but little advanced in civilization, and full
of disturbances and revolutions. There are some who have studied
a little in Paris, London, Germany and the United States, and
each one thinks he knows better than the other. They hold
themselves in high repute, not wishing to see at the head of the
Government one whom they think inferior to themselves. Then,
they seek to make friends and induce them to follow the same
ideas. Thus they work on collectively until they succeed in
removing the ruling President and placing in the Presidential Chair
one of their own followers. Very often, one of these satellites,
well grounded in these ideas by the first proud usurper, takes the
opportunity of overthrowing the one he had previously helped to
establish in the Presidency; in the same manner does a third one
l)ehave, and so they carry on in this way. Sometimes one of
them, still more ignorant, and not possessing the necessary knowl¬
edge, wishes to accomplish . something even more brilliant, and
endeavours to become famous by persecuting religious men and
women. This is what ultimately happened to our Sisters. It

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

99

appears the School was progressing nicely, being filled with
children of the best families. Indeed, I was feeling quite happy
over the foundation, because, having survived three revolutions,
the Sisters there felt encouraged to believe that their position was
more secure. Generally speaking, very serious diseases and
epidemics break out after revolutions and wars, owing to the
unburied bodies of the victims. Fortunately, all our Sisters re¬
mained free from infection, and not one of the pupils contracted
any illness. It was at this moment of apparent success that
they heard that there appeared immediate danger, owing to a
new dispute in the Government, which arose through the entrance
of some foreigners, who excited the Liberals of Nicaragua, always
easily led to rebellion.

It just happened, too, that about this time a young lady, a great
votary of the world and its pleasures, touched by the grace of
God, was converted, and sought immediate entrance into our
Convent. She was not received, however, as the local Superior
had first to obtain permission from the Superior General before
receiving anyone into the Convent. The young lady had recourse
to Dona Elena Arellano, a lady of high repute in Nicaragua, and
this lady, owing to the esteem and influence she enjoyed in the
country, kept the would-be Nun with her in her house. In the
meantime, those who had lost their prey in the person of the
young lady, attributed the workings of grace to our having induced
the girl to leave the world, and shortly afterwards we heard we
were to be expelled. To ascertain the truth of this rumour, the
Reverend Mother called personally on the President. He received
her and her companion with every mark of esteem. He was
loud in his praise of our work, and even promised his fatherly
protection, which, of course, left them with a sense of assurance
of his goodwill. Moreover, the following week he sent a case of
prize books for the pupils, which were accompanied by a letter
in his own handwriting promising our Sisters every protection.

A month after the President had promised to protect the Sisters,
whilst they were quietly attending their classes and finishing off
some new uniforms, the new Prefect of the city, Mr. Pedro Pablo
Bodan, and the Governor, Mr. Rivos, asked to see the Reverend
Mother. On presenting herself, they gave her orders to leave the
country at once, and told her that the steamer was lying in port

100

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cahrini

awaiting them. The Superior pleaded that two Sisters were very
ill in bed, but they would not revoke the order, and surrounding
the house with Military Guards so that outsiders could have no
access, and that the Sisters should not have the chance of appealing
to the President, they intimated that no outsiders who were within
the walls of the Convent would be allowed to leave the house until
the Sisters had first left. As soon as the pupils heard of it, they
arose in a body against these men, crying and shouting piteously.
As soon as the parents of the pupils heard of the matter, they went
to the Convent to try and prevent the expulsion, but all was in
vain, as the soldiers had received orders to fire on all who resisted.
The screams and shouts filled the air. It was a scene of real
desolation. The Prefect alone remained unmoved. In the midst of
all this disorder, it was lovely to see how calm and serene the
Sisters remained whilst they prepared the few articles of clothing
they needed for the voyage, trying in the meantime to quiet the
children and their parents, and showing how to accept this trial
from the hands of God, Who knows how to draw good from evil,
and promising to return some day. Two hours later the Prefect
called forward the carriages which were to convey the Sisters to
the steamer. The Sisters were surrounded by soldiers who accom¬
panied them to the port.

It was just like a funeral cortege, for, the news having spread,
a great crowd followed the Sisters, crying and begging them to
stay, as their leaving the country was the sign of God’s wrath,
towards them. They pleaded mercy for their sins. On arrival
at the port, the soldiers formed a cordon around the Sisters to
prevent the crowd following. The Sisters passed one by one, as
they had to be counted before embarking.

A few minutes later two priests arrived on board. They were
the Parish Priest and the Chaplain. They, too, were banished,
whilst the day before six other priests were exiled to the port of
Corinto on the Pacific.

Lady Elena Arellano, who had spent so much money on this
foundation, and who loved the Sisters so much, felt she could not
let them go without accompanying them, but as this was forbidden
under pain of exile, she decided to accept the penalty, and remained
with them all the time they stayed at San Juan del Nor^'', and

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

101

until they had received orders from the Mother General to found
another Mission.

Every vessel that left Granada brought some resident of Nicar¬
agua, who came to console the Sisters whom they loved and
venerated, and to whom they brought some help. Even the
very Indians of Rama, through the distinguished Don Felice
Alfaro, gave the Sisters a substantial sum of money to help them
in their distress.

At Granada, Don Constantino Motonco, who had his children
at the School, obtained from the parents what was still due to
the Sisters, and sent the money on to them, which could not have
been much, as this was generally paid in advance. However, it
shows how the Sisters had to struggle for their maintenance,
especially having several sick Nuns.

And so the good God does not abandon His Beloved servants
when in need, tribulations and illness. He knows how to soothe
our wounds, and from news which I have recently received, I have
reason to praise the Most Sacred Heart, Who so honours our Insti¬
tute with banishment, though it is so young, poor and the least in
our Holy Church.

The expulsion of our Sisters was a celestial dew which fell upon
many souls, and changed that delirium of fury and impiety into a
solemn act of homage to our most holy Religion. It was a Divine
Light dispelling the dense darkness. Let us thank God for having
so favoured us and made us worthy of suffering for His cause!
But you are in great suspense and anxious to know what happened
in consequence, and I will satisfy your wishes. The expulsion of
the Sisters from Nicaragua not only made an impression on the
good, who could not console themselves on account of their loss,
but also on the bad. There was one member of the Masonic
group, who, touched by Divine Grace at the sight of such cruelty,
became sincerely converted. He had been one of the worst
enemies of the Church, attacking Her even by his writings and his
speeches. Now he became one of Her greatest defenders, after
having witnessed our expulsion, and went so far as to refuse a
public office which was offered to him, rather than sacrifice his
intelligence and good convictions. His answer was, that a true
Catholic could have nothing to do with a Government so brutal,
impious and cowardly, whose heroism consisted in oppressing

102

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

the weak, stamping on religion, and outraging Sisters, whose
sole crime was to instruct innocent youth by means of self-sacrifice.

This refusal gave room to much criticism and mockery, and
made him many enemies, but nothing could make him turn
back. He knew well what he would have to put up with, but
he said the example of the Sisters helped him. They, being
innocent, had suffered so heroically, hence why should he not
suffer, who merited so much punishment for his past misdeeds
against the Truth? He would rather die than withdraw from
the obligations of the true followers of Christ!

He gave up all his Masonic decorations and his whole library,
which was very large, he handed to the Bishop. In thanksgiving
for so great a grace, which he appreciated according to its worth,
he had a solemn High Mass celebrated, inviting all his relations
and Catholic friends to assist at it, and receiving Holy Communion
with his whole family. He still remains very good, rising at four
a.m., to pray, while at six he goes to High Mass, and receives
Holy Communion weekly. He has renewed his library, filling it
with books of sound doctrine and Christian piety, amongst which
are the Imitation of Christ, The Christian Year, and the Martyr-
ology and the like, and intimates that his family should read these
at certain hours of the day.

Therefore the expulsion has had one great good result for the
inhabitants of Nicaragua, a result which is most consoling. Let
us supplicate the Sacred Heart that such may always be the effect
of the sufferings of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, for then
we do not really leave the Mission but, rather, change it into a
better one. It is now eight months since the Sisters left, but
they continually receive letters from one family and another, and
some even bearing the name of the President of the Republic.
Please God we shall return some day, but not at present, as the
actual government cannot guarantee the privileges and liberty
which we require for the success of our work.

Yesterday, at four a.m., we perceived the lighthouse of Colon,
and a little later the monument of Christopher Columbus. At
seven-thirty the English steamer was already in the hands of the
Custom House officers. Friends and relations had come to meet
their expected friends, and I strained my eyes to see if there were
any Sisters to meet us and to convey us to Panama, but there was

Neiv Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

103

no one about, as the Sisters had been told that the steamer would
not arrive before mid-day. They had, therefore, only left by the
eleven a.m. train. We knew nothing of this, and as I had deter¬
mined not to sleep outside the Convent that night, whatever
happened, I made my own arrangements. For a moment or so
the whole place appeared to me like a desert, seeing that no one
had come to meet us, especially as I had sent several letters and,
recently, even telegrams announcing our arrival. However, I
made up my mind to act, and approaching the Captain, I begged
him to allow me to remain on board until the arrival of the train.
Then taking a cab, I went to the Prefect to ask him to give us a
free passage to Panama. He not only favoured me in this in¬
stance, but said he would do anything for our School in Panama.
When everything had been arranged, we returned on board for
dinner, where there were two Sisters awaiting us with tickets for
all four. The Captain very kindly allowed the new arrivals to
dine with us, and at two p.m. we were on our way to Panama.
After three hours and a half amidst the beautiful mountainous
scenery of the Isthmus, we arrived at Panama, where at the station
we met our Sisters, and within a quarter of an hour we were
within the Convent, blessing the Sacred Heart for having given
me back those Sisters whom for four years I had not seen. After
a short rest, I was anxious to look over the house which a number
of distinguished persons obtained from the Government for our
School, and which already shelters the children of the highest
families of Panama.

The house is lovely. One could imagine easily to be on board
a steamer, because on the south and south-west it is surrounded
by the sea, whose proud waves beat against the walls of our
garden, throwing a spray of water, whiter than milk, with small
pebbles which the children take for sweets. The room which the
Sisters have prepared for me is surrounded on two sides by large
orange trees, the fruit of which touches my window sill. One
window looks out on a path which leads to the sea and the lovely
isles in it, which seem to be playing in the bay. These isles really
serve as a defence or a sort of port for all vessels that come from
California, from all the Southern ports, and from Europe through
the Straits of Magellan. Such a long voyage, however, is only
made by ships and very seldom by the Transatlantic steamers.

104

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

In our garden we have six kinds of palms, bananas and coffee trees
and various kinds of fruit, the names of which I do not know.

To-day I wanted to visit His Lordship, the Bishop of this city,
but the person who was to obtain the audience for us said
the Bishop would send word himself. This message was hardly
delivered, when His Lordship arrived so as to greet me first. He
is a very distinguished person, and inspires great confidence in
one. This is a very favourable augury for our new foundation,
which seems to have gained already such a good footing. A
great number of persons called on me, saying how happy they
were that we had come to stay, a favour that they had long desired
but which for many reasons they had failed to obtain, especially
owing to the expulsion.

Yellow fever is prevalent here, but, as far as we are concerned,
I can attest to the contrary, as the Sisters have had no fever
whatever during the nine months; in fact, they are in better
health. The heat here is no worse than in Nicaragua. We frequently
have very refreshing breezes which strengthen and invigorate us.

Before closing this, I want to give you some news of the work
that is done by our Sisters in New York, and how the Sacred Heart
blesses our Mission there. But you know the only free time we
have is when we are.on the ocean, so I will speak of it another
time on another voyage, which I may make either on the Atlantic
or on the Pacific. Here on the Isthmus we are really at the apex
of the world. The position of the house is such that I imagine
I can see every part of the earth in that immense space of water
which is in front of us. It serves us as an object for meditation,
and this is not disturbed by the desire I have of taking the first
vessel that sails to the places where the need is the greatest. But
where shall I go? The calls are many, and if I cannot go to all
places where we are needed, as commanded by Rome, I will do
my utmost to comply with obedience as far as it lies in my power.
Pray, daughters, pray from your heart, so that we may be able
to do all that the Sacred Heart wants of us. Study to become
observant, for with perfect observance you will become Saints.
Seek to increase your number, so that I may increase the number
of Houses for the good of souls. I can assure you that the people
are well disposed, though they are uncivilized. They only need
someone to speak the Word of God and instruct them.

New Orleans to Panama — May, 1895

105

Tell the young ladies who have received so much from God, tell
them not to bury their talents, but, corresponding with the sublime
grace of their vocation, to come forward and unite themselves with
us and become Holy Religious, to work in these endless fields where
the harvest is rich, but the labourers are few. Tell them to come
and carry the sheaves into the granary of our holy and august
Religion. Tell our friends not to cease helping us with their
offerings, as the work extends in proportion to the means at hand.
And blessed are those who have placed their charitable offerings
in this treasury, because they will be rewarded a hundredfold,
and will receive blessings in this world on themselves, their
families and undertakings, while heavenly blessings, to their
consolation, will follow them at the last day, when they will depend
totally on their good works and generosity. I send, then, from
my heart, my best wishes to all, imploring special blessings from
the Sacred Heart of Jesus on all, assuring them that I shall not
forget them in my poor prayers, and will have them remembered
in those of the Community. And you, my dear daughters, I
leave you in the Heart of Jesus, where we must remain united
together, though we are four or six thousand miles apart. The
Missionary knows no distance—the world is so small. Space is
an imperceptible object to a Missionary, because she is accustomed
to dwell on eternity, to which she wishes to conduct all the souls
she can—those souls which have been redeemed by the Most
Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Open your hearts, oh. Mission¬
aries of the Sacred Heart, open your hearts and souls; do not be
content with little, but become holy by sanctifying all whom you
approach under obedience, and console your Mother, who, though
far away, loves you and delights herself in the beautiful garden
of your virtues.

May Jesus bless and enclose you in His Beautiful Heart, where
I find you every hour and every day.

Affectionately yours in Corde Jesu,

Mother Frances Saverio Cabrini.

CHAPTER VII

f^anama down the f^uci^ic and acrodd
tlie ^^nded to d^uenod .^ifed

(ddctoLer, 1895

12th October, 1895.

My dear Daughters,

Peace be to you, and may you repeat often,
“Omnia possum in Eo qui me confortat!“

Della ptaga del costato
Quanto e larga Vapertura
Ivi il porto e preparato,
Lungi, o figlie, ogni paura;
Sto alia Vergine afferrata.
Presto al porto sard entrata.

“What a long voyage, what a hard voyage Mother is undertaking
at present!“ Such is what I hear you say, whilst I detect the
sadness and fear depicted on your faces. I believe I am the calm¬
est amongst you all, and I am, really so, as far as my voyage
is concerned. Jesus still lives. Mary, the Mother of Grace, is
always my most tender Mother, because she is the Mother and
Foundress of our Institute. It is Jesus and Mary who have
always seen me through thousands of difficulties, and will they
abandon me now? No, I shall never do them such an injury as
to mistrust their power and protection. During all the sixteen
years the Institute has existed, they have done everything for
me. They have accomplished everything wonderfully. If, some¬
times, things were not so successful, it was because I acted too
much on my own initiative; when I left the work to them, I had
nothing to regret. I go forward, then, as tranquil as a child
reposing in its mother’s arms; in that safe ship of the Sacred

107

108 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Heart of Jesus I go to fulfill my mission. Holy obedience and the
blessing of the Holy Father accompany me and remove all fears.
I fear nothing, repeating continually my motto, ‘^Omnia possum
in Eo qui me confortat !’*

The wind roars, the heavens darken, the treacherous waves
arise and beat against the steamer, everything turns topsy-turvy.
We are threatened with a terrible tempest. All this matters
nothing; I have given my trust, I must keep my word of honour,
and with faith and confidence. I hope, with God’s grace, to go
on repeating, ''Omnia possum in Eo qui me confortat!” We
are Missionaries, oh, daughters, and the Missionary should never
shrink from difficulties and dangers, but, rather, confiding in
Jesus and resting on Mary, she will overcome all difficulties and
escape dangers.

Difficulties! What are they, daughters? They are the mere
playthings of children enlarged by our imagination, not yet
accustomed to focus itself on the Omnipotent. Dangers! What
are dangers? The spectres that surprise the soul, which having
given itself to God, or thinking it has done so, still retains the
spirit of the world, or at least many sparks of it, which fly up from
the ashes and flare at every gust of contrary wind.

It is necessary, dear daughters, to invest ourselves with the
true spirit, to live a life of true faith, lively faith, and not to
deceive ourselves and the grace that is always in us.

In Holy Baptism we solemnly renounced the world, the devil
and the flesh; but we must prove that renunciation by our daily
actions. When we entered Religion, we said, "I am crucified to
the world and the world is crucified to me.” But such a promise
should not be a mere empty saying; in reality we should live as
if we were people of a Holy Nation that belongs no longer to the
world. When we took the Crucifix of the Missionary and became
more generous in the service of God, we said, with the impulse
of the ardent soul, ''I shall be happy to shed my blood for Jesus
Christ, and will welcome the blessed day in which it shall be given
to me to suffer something for the Holy Cause, for the salvation of
souls and the glory of God.” Sublime words! And who would
be false to such an oath made by so courageous a soul? O
daughters! Let us meditate profoundly on the sublimity of the
state to which God has called us—that of working for the salvation

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

109

of souls! In the presence of such contemplation, we can never
shrink from our promises or lose courage, if only because of the
judgment and reasoning of the world I

*‘But I am weak!'’ With God's help we can do everything;
He never fails a humble and faithful soul. ‘'But I am so
fragile!" If you are humble and constant, God will be your
strength, and, having been made strong with the strength of
God, what shall we fear? The devil is terrible, but he is like a
chained dog—he cannot disturb you or hurt you without God's
permission. Therefore, a humble and faithful soul need have no
fear of the devil. ‘T have failed in generosity, I have fallen at
the first temptation, now I shall not be able to do anything well."
Have you fallen? Then, humble yourself, and, with a lively act
of contrition from the depths of your heart, ask pardon with great
humility and renew your promises to God and those who represent
Him; then be up and doing with more courage than ever to repair
your defects.

October 12th, Yesterday was a red-letter day.

The thought of leaving, after a stay of four months, our dear
Sisters, who so edified me and whose virtues made the Convent
of Panama, a sweet habitation, was painful.

To leave those young ladies, our pupils, who endeared themselves
to me by their nobleness of heart and co-operation in the cares
and sacrifices expended by the Sisters in their regard; who sur¬
rounded me daily to hear a few words of advice, which as yet I
can hardly express in their own language; the efforts they made
to overcome themselves and to render me happier each day by
guessing my wishes; all this combined to render my departure
more painful. The steamer was lying at a distance of three miles
from the shore, and they all came on board to see me off. The
noble and generous Signor Don Ernesto Icasa, the father of one
of our dear pupils, had placed at their disposal his comfortable
launch. The representatives of the heads of families in Panama
and the patrons of the new School, also came on board and intro¬
duced me to the Captain and the Head Steward. They are very
distinguished persons, not only on account of their social position,
but for the virtues and generosity that distinguish them.

From the very first moment that I arrived in Panama they did

110

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

all in their power, to further the development of the School and to
place its preservation and progress on a sound footing. Many
were the sacrifices and acts of self-denials they made in its regard
The evening before my departure, the Committee came togethei
to assure me that during my absence they would do everything
in their power for the Sisters, and even attested the same in
writing, adding a letter of commendation for me to present to
their friends when I reached Ecuador, Peru, Chili and Argentine.
Many ladies, our good friends, came to the port to see me off.
Amongst others was the Bishop's Secretary, the Parish Priest of
the Cathedral, who came with good wishes, which, because they
are accompanied by God’s blessing, are always valuable. This good
priest had been invited by our Chaplain, to give us Benediction
of the Blessed Sacrament, so that my voyage might be blessed.
So many demonstrations of kindness touched my soul, indeed,
and rendered more and more deeply painful my leaving Panama,
a town with so many noble and generous people.

On board the steamer, Messrs. Icasa, Espinosa, Della-Ossa and
Lewis introduced me to the Captain with many expressions of
recommendation. Mr. Icasa gave a finishing touch to the leave-
taking by paying for the voyage and handing the tickets to the
Bursar himself, making sure that I should enjoy all the advantages
procured for me. There was also the comical side which served
to mitigate the sadness of the last moments, for the Consul, Mr.
Della-Ossa, took the Captain by the arm, saying, “You know.
Mother has had no supper yet.” “Of course,” he said, “she
shall have it presently,” but Mr. Della-Ossa persisted so much,
that the Captain thought he wanted him to go to the kitchen
himself for my supper. The Captain was very amused, and called
the Steward to conduct us to the dining room, but I begged him
to wait a few moments, as I wished to see the Sisters and children
return, as the tender was leaving at once, it being six p.m. Night
comes on with remarkable rapidity in these equatorial regions. The
waving of the handkerchiefs could not be distinguished after they
had gone about fifty metres, so we went to our cabins. Mother
Chiara and I. These were just like a little Convent. The two
cabins communicated one with the other and opened, out on the
deck, which is four metres wide and one hundred long, where we
can walk about freely and enjoy the air. The dining room is

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

111

very near, and very comfortable; we might have wished for all these
conveniences, but we could hardly have expected to find them.
After supper, and after having said some prayers, Mother Chiara
went to bed, whilst I sat alone facing the lighthouse of Panama.
Looking to the left of it, I thought I could see the Sisters at
recreation gazing in the direction of the steamer Mapocho, and
afterwards absorbed in prayers in the chapel. I also thought I
could see all the five lamps burning, three before the Blessed
Sacrament and one each before Our Lady and Saint Joseph,
which, by raising and lowering their flickering lights, seemed as
though they wished to unite with the Sisters in praying for a
good voyage for me. I then united with you in spirit, and prayed
in return that you might receive the most precious graces which
you need always in order that you may accomplish your mission,
i.e., to lead to God all the souls that are brought into contact
with you.

Between nine-thirty and ten p.m., and very quietly, the steamer
began to move, and, having turned round, it passed in front of
Flamengo hill and made straight for the south. I continued as
long as I could to look on the left-hand side of the lighthouse, but
little by little the darkness that surrounded us became so dense that
everything was rendered imperceptible. Then, having lost all hope
of again seeing you any longer, and of hearing your voices raised
in singing the hymn of the Ave Maris Stella as an invocation and
prayer for me to Our Lady, I also retired to rest.

On the morning of the 12th, as soon as I arose and had said my
prayers, I turned towards Panama to see if I could get a glimpse
if not of the town, at least of the coast, but the water that sur¬
rounded me was like a leaden space. The heavens were so
clouded that I could not distinguish the points of the compass,
which might have helped me to look in the proper direction. I
then looked into the Sacred Heart, where I could see you in deep
contemplation like so many inflamed seraphim in preparation for
Holy Communion. It was a most consoling vision for me, and
I hastened to unite myself with you in Spiritual Communion,
offering it to the Eternal Father in union with your Sacramental
Communion.

The atmosphere seems to have changed its nature, for, proceeding
towards the Equator and even while on the Equatorial line itself.

112

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

instead of feeling the great heat which we were told to expect,
we felt rather cold, so much so that we were obliged to put on
heavier clothes. One would think the steamer had mistaken its
route and had steered towards the North Pole instead of going
to the Equator. Two blankets were not sufficient, and we had to
wear shawls when on deck, but despite this I feel the cold to my
very bones. I should have loved to have used those two cushions
you had so carefully provided for me, but no matter how much
I stretched my arms, I could not reach Panama to take them. I
imagined also how disappointed you were to have forgotten them,
but there is no need of your being upset, for everyone is so atten¬
tive to us on the steamer, that we need nothing.

Then, while crossing the Equator, it is not becoming to wish for
too many conveniences, because we are near and in a straight line
with Quito, where Blessed Marianna lived in such austere penance,
though this is rather to be admired than imitated. What a pity that
M. Gabriella is not here, now that we are passing the Equator,
seeing she wished so much to see the line. It is like a shining dark
blue band stretched just above a globe, and is really beautiful to
behold. The sea seems to end there. To one of the lady passengers
who desired to see the line, the merry company placed a thread
across a pair of eye-glasses, so that she thought she really saw a
great beam dividing the two hemispheres. However, notwith¬
standing this joke, the combination of sky and water forms such
a beautiful spectacle, that one would think it was the actual line
of division where the South begins and where a twofold nature
appears to exist, for whilst the thermometer registers 27 centi-
grades, the air is so cold that it caused us to shiver.

You must not think it is always like this; everyone is surprised
at this phenomenon. I am not so surprised, accustomed as I am,
now, to see so many changes from the hand of God, Who, in the
economy of His Most Holy Providence, always has new wonders
for those who completely abandon themselves to Him. I, in fact,
rejoice to be able to give you a new description of these equatorial
regions, of which I have heard hardly anything except that the
heat is excessive and unbearable. It might be that the Lily of
Quito, the Blessed Marianna, from her sepulchre in the Andes, or,
rather, from Heaven where she sits happily at the side of her
loving Jesus, sent us this fresh breeze to mitigate the heat of the

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

113

voyage, which we undertook from Panama in honour of Saint Rose
of Lima, the Patroness of America. We shall visit her tomb and
receive Holy Communion at her altar.

October \6th. Yesterday we arrived at Guayaquil, where we
intended to go ashore to receive Holy Communion, but two hours
passed before the custom officers and doctors came on board.
Then there arrived a Peruvian priest, who during the revolutions,
had left Ecuador and settled in Peru. He had hardly reached
Guayaquil, when he was banished anew to Peru, and embarked
on our steamer. I made up my mind after this information not
to go ashore and have the police following us, as everybody is
held in suspicion. Signor Alfaro not having as yet fully settled his
Government.

Guayaquil is a beautiful port. Its entrance resembles that of
the Mississippi at New Orleans. We have to sail up this river
for more than six hours before we reach the port. They say the
vegetation is charming, but I cannot describe it as we arrived at
night, and after twenty-four hours we again sail at night.
The town resembles Genoa for its scenery, only it is not so high
and healthy.

Seen from the steamer, the city, with its beautiful houses built
with architectural regularity and well painted and in shape semi¬
circular, reflected in the water, is very fine and not inferior to a
European city. When illuminated at night it is a wonderfully
pleasant sight, and, judging from the tall steeples towering over the
houses, the churches should be beautiful. But now these temples
and houses are deserted and present a desolate spectacle, for the
first thing the revolutionary Alfaro with his followers did was to
banish Priests and Sisters. The latter took refuge in Panama and
then returned to their Mother Houses. Some were not banished,
but a troop of rough men entered the convents and treated the in¬
mates so brutally that the Sisters fled in despair from the country.
Some of these poor women suffered so much, that they were still
ill when I called on them . . . But you are not to be fright¬
ened. If you are banished from one place, you should, like
the Apostles, shake the dust from your shoes and enter another
country. Hunted from the second, you can return again to the
first, and so you will not abandon a large number of souls who

114

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

desire to take advantage of the good you can do them. At the
present moment, having no business in Ecuador, I simply pray the
Blessed Marianna to look down upon her country and obtain that
it be again enlightened with the light and faith of former days.

October I7th. Yesterday we left Ecuador and entered the waters
of Peru, and at seven a.m. we arrived at the port of Paita. It
looks like a city of desolation, and at first sight it saddens one's
heart. No trees, no grass, no fountain are visible. Surrounded by
low and dry mountains, it is a real desert. Yet it is one of the
most healthy ports, and large numbers even from Ecuador come
here to enjoy its curative advantages. In fact, the air one breathes
here is pure, light and balsamic, and really restores one. The sea
is tranquil, and they tell us it never gets rough at this point. It
has such a beautiful blue soft colour that one would think it a
fallen portion of the sky. But to us it appeared even more
beautiful and singular, for, as we looked around to see if we
could find a steeple to which we could turn our thoughts to Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, a flock of white birds
suddenly whirled around us, making a strange noise, at which
Mother Chiara broke silence, saying, “What can this mean?"
“Oh," I replied, playfully, “they are inviting us to their country
as they did three years ago at Panama, and we will go there when
we can." While we were talking and amusing ourselves with
these peculiar birds, a priest came on board, and approaching me,
after a few salutations, asked me what was the object of our
voyage. Having told him, he said we should remain here and open
a Mission. In the meantime, he said, he would see to our going
ashore immediately. I had a difficult time in endeavouring to
persuade him that it was impossible for me to stop here, at which
he seemed very much disappointed. However, determined not to
be outdone, he shortly afterwards appeared with the Governor and
Mayor, who promised me all sorts of things, salary, etc. At first
I thought that, as there was a great deal of business being carried
on on board, that these people wanted to trade with us, but I
soon discovered that their intentions were very good, and that
they only desired to get a religious education for the youth of
their country. Of course, I could not gratify their wishes, and
they finally took my address, and I theirs, with the hope of

Panama to Bnenos Aires — October^ 1895

115

satisfying their wishes at a later date. Meanwhile, two beautiful
clays have passed away without our being able to receive Our
Divine Lord or hear Holy Mass: the Feasts of St. Teresa and of
Blessed Margaret Mary. Had we been without the consolation of
prayer, this long voyage would have been insupportable. What
a gift prayer is! It is the real treasure of our soul, our being
able to give to God the worship of perfect adoration. Prayer is
the channel through which the most precious waters of grace
continually and copiously flow from the Heart of God. Precious
waters, daughters, these are, for while they sanctify us, they
render happy our Holy Church, of which we should daily try to
become more worthy. Prayer is always useful, because it can
penetrate everywhere, and where there is misery and poverty,
there it enters to enrich, to give life, grace, comfort and salvation;
its zeal is like that of God’s Angel, its activity is greater than the
most ardent fire, its velocity is like the thought of the Cherubim.
Oh, the spirit of prayer knows no obstacles, admits of no delay,
despises dangers; its end is the glory of God, the prosperity of
Christ’s interests, the extension of His Kingdom, our own sanctifi¬
cation and that of our neighbour I Oh, what happiness, daughters!
I go accompanied by the powerful and wonderful means of prayer.
I am, then, most happy in the midst of the foaming waves of
the sea. And you, dear daughters, pray, pray always, and
incessantly practise the spirit of prayer, which must form your
happiness.

October 20th. On the ISth we had two landings—one at Port
Eten and the other at Port Pacasmayo—and yesterday morning
we had another at Port Salaverri, where we still are, though,
judging from the scenery and commerce, it does not appear to
be a place of much importance. There is a big trade here in sugar,
cocoa, rice and cotton, which form the principal riches of these
countries, apart from the mines of gold and other metals which
still abound in Peru, though not so much as they did at one time.
Now it possesses another source of wealth, the natural and rich
guano composed chiefly of the lime of sea-fowls. From the
Equator to Chili, all the coast, whether plain or mountainous, is
but one desert. There is not a blade of grass, not a tree, nothing
that gives the slightest indication of vegetation. Nothing can be

116 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

cultivated, for there is no rain except at intervals of five to seven
years. In the intervening years, millions of birds, destined by
Providence, deposit in certain places quantities of faecal matter,
from which is extracted the guano which is so much valued all
over the world for the cultivation of fields.

In these parts we have seen many practical innovations. The
sea is almost always so rough that boats coming to a ship with
passengers, cannot always get near the ship-ladder, and then what
is done to put the passengers on board? Well, something very
curious and very funny takes place. They take a barrel cut open
on one side and place the person in it. They then attach it to
the chain which they use for hauling merchandise. The person is
then pulled up and let down into the ship. The poor creature,
who is suspended between the sky and the water seems very
much afraid, and this applies not only to the women but to the
men also, for even when they reach the deck they appear stupefied
and as if not quite sure of having escaped some sort of danger.
Yesterday one of the usual stowaways of these ports, taking advan¬
tage of the conveyance of merchandise, managed to get on board,
but the officers, who are quite practical, as soon as they saw him
accosted him and told him to leave the steamer at once. It was a
most difficult task for him to climb up the ship, but it was more
difficult to descend, so they took him, put him into a sack and then
attached the sack to the chain and let him down. He must have
been accustomed to this sort of thing, for he remained indifferent
and as fresh as a rose.

We were detained in this port of Salaverri, which is as important
as it is inconvenient, for two days, owing to the large quantity of
cargo we had to take on board. Some years ago a large dock was
built here to facilitate the work of embarkation. It was hardly
finished, when there arose a tremendous gale which destroyed it
completely, not leaving a trace of the work, while the expense of
construction was so great that the promoters did not feel disposed
to rebuild it. The ocean is very rough here, and the waves break
so violently that they actually frighten us. The cargoes are
brought across in large and strongly-built boats, and, notwith¬
standing their size, they often seem to be on the point of foundering
as the great waves sweep over them and hide them from sight,
while we remain in terrible suspense until we see them rise

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

117

again above the tremendous waves. Amidst the force of the
waves, these unfortunate boats roll from one side to another,
though they are in the hands of ten strong rowers with long broad
oars. The one at the stern, who acts as steersman, has a bigger
oar than the others, and works with all his might and main.
Others come with ‘‘balzas,'' a boat of somewhat primitive con¬
struction and formed of planks of long big trees. Called ‘Talzas,’’
these planks are as light and spongy as cork, and offer great resist¬
ance to the water. By means of these boats they transport bags
of charcoal which is used in these parts. It is said to be a safer
form of transport than any other kind of boat. However, I should
not care to trust myself on one of them except under obedience,
in which case fear ceases and is replaced by a trust which brings
security.

Obedience! Oh, dear word. Obedience! The revealed word,
ray of true light, which descends upon us from the Father of Light,
as a manifestation of the Divine Will by means of His representa¬
tives on earth. He who does the Will of God feels great peace,
tastes Heaven in advance; and what great joy is purs, oh,
daughters, who live under obedience, or, rather, in the State of
Obedience, really, actually and continually doing the Will of God.
‘‘Ego quae placita sunt ei facio semper.” Those who live under
obedience are sure of their way, because in the practice of obedience
there are no errors, no deceits, no illusions, nor darkness. Obedi¬
ence! Obedient souls are the delight of the Heart of Jesus, Who
has said His treasures are always open to His Beloved and Faithful
Spouses. It is they whom He makes the dispensers of His posses¬
sions, on earth and in Heaven. Do you love Jesus, daughters?
Do you want to be His faithful Spouses? If so, love obedience.
Obey always, for God's sake. Let every command be easy to you,
on account of the faith you have in Holy Obedience. Are you
sure of the steps you take, of the solidity of your work, of the
strength of your spirit? In the way of obedience not only will
you walk, but you will fly like royal eagles and spend a quiet and
happy life, being able to repeat to yourselves, ‘T am sure I am
doing God’s Will.” Remember, no one ever became a Saint
without obedience, for it is obedience which is the favourite virtue
of all the Saints. Do not do things by halves, but let your obedi¬
ence be entire and perfect, just like that of Jesus. Firstly, in the

118

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

performance of it, by following promptly, entirely and happily all
that is ordered by the Superior; secondly, as regards the will, by
not wishing for anything but what the Superior wishes; thirdly,
as regards your judginent, by judging and thinking as the Superior
judges and thinks. Which of you, daughters, has not contracted
debts with God in the course of your life? Well, a sure way and
means of paying your debts to God is that of submitting oneself to
a true and perfect obedience, seeing that obedience is of far greater
value than any penance whatsoever you can imagine. ‘'Melior
est obedientia quam victim^e.” Most sweet will be the death of
obedient souls.

Always late; we arrive at Callao only on the 22nd. I rose at
four o’clock, and at five-fifteen I called Mother Chiara to get up
in the hope of going ashore at six a.m. and then taking the train
for Lima, where I wanted to satisfy my desire of receiving
Holy Communion at the Sepulchre of Saint Rose. But very soon
our hopes vanished, for at seven-thirty none of the customs officers
had arrived, and no boats were allowed to come near the steamer
under penalty of a heavy fine. They came at last, but what was
our surprise to learn that there was no train to Lima until nine
a.m. I didn’t know what to do. Mother Chiara had fought long
enough with the sea, and it was impossible for her to remain
fasting much longer. As for myself, I did not want to lose my
promised Communion in honour of Saint Rose, having made
many promises to her and having confided to her care the rest
of our journey and the interests I am engaged in furthering. I
could manage the fast all right, having had no trouble with the
sea, only playing with the waves, as it were, delighting in their
impotence and their breaking and rising like foam and mist,
which resembled at times some part of the Niagara Falls, which
I saw near Buffalo, U.S.A., about three years ago. We took the
train and arrived in Lima at ten a.m. We hired a cab to the
Dominican Church, where we were able to satisfy our devotion.
On the Altar where I received Holy Communion there was a
statue of the Infant Jesus with His arms extended, bearing a
celestial smile on His face of extraordinary beauty. He seemed to
gaze on me and to say, 'Tt is here I have waited to favour thee,
through the merits of my beloved Rosa, whom you have come to
honour.” The look of this Infant, so real, penetrated the very

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

119

depths of my soul, and such was the comfort I felt, that I forgot
all about my fast, as well as all other human wants, so much so,
that I found I hadn’t even taken as much as a sip of coffee, and
it was one p.m. If it is thus Jesus rewards a little sacrifice, what
will He not do for souls who are really faithful to Him ?

But let us return to the Dominican Basilica, where, after Holy
Communion, the Reverend Fathers showed us the different Altars,
especially the one where Saint Rose’s head is venerated. The
Saint’s head is enclosed in a silver urn placed above another urn
which contains the ashes of Blessed Martin de Porres. The Altars
are all adorned with big statues, some of which are truly beautiful.
The Saints are so realistically represented in life-size, that one
would almost think they could speak, but amongst the statues are
some which are dressed, according to the taste of the individual
who honoured these particular Saints, but which does not tend
to enhance devotion. When the statues are adorned with taste, and
especially when the colours correspond as far as possible with the
natural features of the Saints, then the Faithful show them more
love and devotion, otherwise they do not appeal to them. On
leaving the church, we saw many women placing their finger on
a leaden seal at the mouth of a leaden pipe, which was enclosed
in a column where the Holy Water fount is placed. With a finger
in that position they prayed with great fervour. I asked them
why they did so, and a woman, surprised at our astonishment,
answered, ‘‘But do you not know that this is an authentic seal
from Rome, and tliat by placing your finger on it and saying an
Our Father, you relieve a soul from Purgatory?” Not to surprise
them more, I also touched the seal with my finger, and then said
a Pater Noster for the Holy Souls. To tell the truth, I never
heard of such a devotion in Rome. But we were not satisfied
with venerating only the head of Saint Rose. So the guide told
us to go to St. Rosa de los Padres, where we would find the rest
of the relics. We went in the direction shown us, and presently
in the place pointed out to us, we found a beautiful new church,
very devotional and well kept. The good Sacristan showed us
the relics of the Saint, which are distributed amongst the different
Altars. In one of the chapels there was a large crucifix and glass
case, where we found the remains of the Saint. The crucifix is
the one she used herself. At the two sides of the Altar there are

120 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

two glass cases, each containing an arm of the Saint. On another
Altar we saw the cross of wood on which, prostrate on the floor,
she used to pray, and to which she used to tie herself in order to
imitate her Saviour, her Spouse, when she was not undergoing
other crucifixions—those of the spirit, which are better—real
crucifixions in the strictest sense, which serve so well to purify
souls and unite them intimately with their Beloved. From such
crucifixions, this beloved of the Crucified, of whom I speak, had
much to suffer. On another Altar we saw the discipline and the
instruments of her penance, while in a frame is placed a letter
written by the Saint herself. On this same Altar was a picture
of Our Lady with the Divine Infant of rare beauty in her arms.
This picture captivates the soul simply by looking at it. It is
believed that the picture represents the Infant who gave the
mystical ring of marriage to Saint Rose, and to whom the Saint
always had recourse for advice before beginning any new enter¬
prise. The Sacristan then took us to the spot where stood the
Saint’s house, which is beside the sacred edifice we had visited.
It is a large piece of ground, whereon are laid the foundations of
a large church bearing the form of a Latin Cross. When the
large, beautiful and strong colonnades had almost reached the
cornice, a terrible rebellion broke out and threw the whole city
of Lima into confusion. The Relig[ious were ill-treated, many
being sent into exile and their Convents destroyed. Since that
unfortunate episode, there has been no thought of continuing the
magnificent work already begun. It is a great pity, for the place
would become a celebrated Sanctuary, seeing that it holds the
well of the Saint, which corresponds with the centre of the church,
while there is the grotto in the garden where she used to withdraw
for prayer, and which would be one of the aisles of the church, to
say nothing of the precious relics above-mentioned and others
which are deposited in various Convents of the Sisters. Having
satisfied our devotion towards the Saint, we went to visit the
Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Macchi, who received us very kindly,
and gave us a very kind letter of recommendation to the Super¬
intendent of the South American Company, asking that he might
let us have tickets at reduced fares, for which reason I had called
on him. We spoke of our voyage, and he gave us instructions to
visit certain places for the purpose of transacting business matters

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

121

connected with our Missions. He knows all the coast as far as
Valparaiso very well, having travelled on this very steamer to
pay a return visit to Monsignor Casanova, Archbishop of Santiago.
With the blessing and good wishes of this good Prelate, I visited
another part of the city so as to have something to write about to
you. Lima is beautiful when compared with the other cities I
saw in South America, but I cannot call it really beautiful. It
resembles the old portion of New Orleans, U.S.A., where the poor
people of that great town reside. We only saw something really
beautiful when we entered St. Peter’s. You may compare St.
Peter’s with churches to be found in Genoa. Dressed-up Saints
are banished from this church. Everything is well ordered, be¬
coming and richly appointed. It was one p.ni. when we entered
St. Peter’s and Mass was being celebrated, at which we assisted
with great consolation, after ten days privation of the Most Holy
Sacrament. The architecture is superb, a good style, with rich
and various kinds of marble. From the altar hung beautiful
tapestries, elegantly and profusely embroidered in very fine gold.
The statues were also numerous here. They seemed life-like and
in good order. It was the last day of the Octave of Blessed
Margaret Mary Alacoque, and on one side of the High Altar there
was a temporary altar in her honour, adorned with lilies and
roses, with a background of beautiful pink cloth which threw out
in high relief the roses and the lilies. How happy I was to see our
Patron in the midst of this triumphant altar, truly appropriate for
this virgin, whom the good Jesus, in the loving designs of His
goodness, pre-ordained from eternity to establish and propagate
the devotion of His Divine Heart, manifesting to her Its wonders
of piety, clemency, power and love. This dear virgin, worthy
daughter of St. Francis de Sales, corresponded with such rare
fidelity with the designs of her celestial Spouse and worked with
such ardent and generous zeal to fulfil her vocation, that both
Heaven and earth were moved to admiration. Words are inade¬
quate to express how much she suffered and worked to diffuse such
a rare and salutary devotion, for the demon, who knew the incom¬
parable advantages that she would bring to the peoples of every
nation, worked against our dear Virgin Protectress with such
Satanic violence, that, to human understanding, it seemed impossible
to conquer and overcome his attacks. But truly loving and faithful

122

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

souls are not discouraged, and it was thus with our Blessed
Margaret. She knew that the work she was destined to establish
came from Heaven. Her courage and confidence did not waver.
Entirely abandoning herself, like a strong and true Missionary, to
the loving piety of her beloved Jesus, coupled with the industry of
an enlightened and generous charity, she knew how to triumph
over all obstacles, meriting thus to see before she died this Divine
Heart known, loved and glorified by a large number of devout souls.
As a recompense for so much generosity of action. Blessed
Margaret Mary now contemplates in Heaven the beauty of the
Divine Heart. She enjoys peace, happiness and sovereign delights,
and can at every instant talk to Him unveiled, implore and obtain
great graces, and she will certainly implore them for you if you
honour her but especially if you imitate her. She will comfort you
with her most powerful intercession. She herself carries your
ardent prayers to the throne of God, and, as a reward for your
zeal, she will place you all in the loving Heart of Jesus, and
obtain for you the grace to live that same life, which is all humility,
all meekness, all obedience, all sacrifice, all love.

At St. Peter’s we met the Jesuit Fathers, who told me to visit
the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, where we could get some re¬
freshments. They have a Government School, a lovely house
close to St. Peter’s. Many years ago, before the great rebellion
destroyed everything, this house belonged to the Jesuits, being a
celebrated college and novitiate. Now the Jesuits have a smaller
house opposite the Convent of the Sacred Heart, but it will be
enlarged in time, as their schools are always frequented by the
principal families of the town. The Reverend Mother of the
Ladies of the Sacred Heart received us very cordially, and whilst
they were getting our lunch ready, she conducted us round the
house. It is a very nice place, indeed, and the arrangements
are so well carried out, that it is most suitable for the different
classes of children who frequent it. The good Sisters wanted us
to stay over-night, but I could not do so, having some business
to attend to at Callao concerning our voyage.

I wanted to visit the Cathedral, but they dissuaded me from
doing so, as it is ugly within and without, the exterior having
been ruined by the cannon fire that was directed against it. This
will surprise you, but I can explain the fact at once. One of the

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

123

first acts of these revolutionaries is always to attack the Cathedral
of a town, and the first of the two hostile partieb who gains
possession of the Cathedral is considered the victor. Perhaps
their intentions are good, for those are declared the victors who
have the good fortune to secure the Sanctuary for themselves,
but we cannot deny that they deface God^s temple and destroy
the most beautiful monuments. They say “adelantados mucho,’’
which means very enlightened, but, to tell the truth, their customs
and manners are those of the aboriginal Indians.

I like the custom of having Holy Mass at one p.m. This is done
daily in all the churches, at which many men and women assist
with a truly edifying devotion. There is a society in Lima which
defrays the expenses of these late Masses.

We returned to Callao towards evening. Our steamer had
already reached the docks, so there was no necessity to take
a small boat to go on board. Both officers and crew were glad
to see us again, inquired how we liked Lima and how our trip
went off.

The next day the Captain introduced us to the Superintendent,
Mr. Kenny, of Callao, and succeeded so well with the English
Company, that he obtained a thirty-three per cent, reduction for
us. We, who could not expect more, were quite satisfied, but
not so the good Captain, who said that as soon as we reached
Valparaiso, he would go to the General Agency and get us a fifty
per cent, reduction, as he admired our life of sacrifice, for which
he said we deserved every consideration.

Callao is a very important port. It has a very nice large dock,
to receive the steamers, which is only opened and accessible when
the steamers arrive.

October 29th. We have been ‘‘coasting” since the 15th, that is,
since we left Guayaquil. The coast is so dry and sandy that one
would imagine we were sailing along the great desert of Arabia,
instead of being on the waters of the Pacific. There are no trees,
no grass, only a variety of rocks. For two days we have been
sailing along certain mountains whose peaks are all one height
and look like a big extended wall, broken by a few valleys and
watered by torrents that descend from the Andes, which, before
rushing into the sea, form creeks, but eventually yield to the force

124

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

of the formidable waves and then mix with the salty waters of
the sea. In these valleys are cities and towns that export vege¬
tables and fruit to other places which suffer drought, and where
the inhabitants as yet can find no means of growing a tree
or any plant whatsoever, the soil being too poor for the culti¬
vation of even a garden. This occurs especially at Chala and
Antofagasta, where all the mountains contain great quantities of
saltpetre, which, evaporating, rises during the day to fall on the
earth at night under the aspect of a thick fog which burns up
every kind of vegetation. These great mountainous walls arise
like impregnable fortresses defying the heavens. Now and again
they take the form of heights, from which the slope extends itself
like a mantle and ends in a scarcely perceptible bay. There a
town is seen to arise and a port where many steamers enter,
especially sailing vessels, which lie in the harbour for weeks await¬
ing a cargo of saltpetre, which they transport to Europe through
the Straits of Magellan; if the vessel is a steamer, it goes round
Cape Horn; if it is a sailing vessel, it takes about four months to
complete the journey. This saltpetre is used in Europe to fertilize
the earth. From this arises the Proverb that we take the best
part of the bread and leave them the crust; which means that they
have little if any profit. But the Proverb does not apply in the
commercial or financial world; much money is made out of various
silver, tin and iron mines, as well as out of saltpetre and guano.

During these days of our journey we stopped at sixteen ports—
Guayaquil, Tombes, Payta, Pimentel, Eten, Pacasmayo, Salaverri,
Callao, Tombe de Mora, Pisco, Chala, Quilca, Mollendo, Ilo, Arica,
Pesagua. It is lovely to watch the train as it travels through
these mining countries, playing, as it were, on the edges of the
precipices, which lie below the zig-zag rails. In some parts there
are funiculars owing to the steep slopes, and accidents are frequent.
But all this does not retard the.se lovers of buried treasures from
continuing their traffic. These big mountains are called little hills
by the people here, and so they are when compared with the great
Andes, just as we regard the hills in Piedmont in comparison
with the Alps and Apennines. To reach the Andes it is necessary
to cross this desert for about nine miles or more. The Cordigliera
is really portentous and imposing. It begins in the island of Diego
Ranires, south-we.st of Cape Horn, enters South America through

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125

Patagonia, and then runs northward, forming a reef first along
the Pacific Ocean, whose waters little by little penetrate the
Cordigliera, making deep bays. But even here the Andes are
not very high, the lowest parts measuring two or three thousand
feet and the highest nine thousand feet. Entering Chili,^ the chain
begins and rises until it reaches to a considerable height in Bolivia.
One can admire what is supposed to be the highest peak of the
Andes, the Aconcagua, the height of which is from twenty-three
to twenty-four thousand feet above the level of the sea. With a
height of about eleven or fourteen thousand feet, this formidable
range continues all through Bolivia and Peru, now and again
thrusting up other heights or peaks covered with perpetual snow.
At interv^als one sees traces of paths, in communication with dif¬
ferent countries, and at this point the lowest height is about six¬
teen thousand feet above sea level. Even at this height there
are fields like those on the plains, for the Cordigliera is about four
hundred miles wide. On one of these is to be found the famous
lake Titacaca, which is the highest in the world. All along the
coast of Peru and reaching the line of the Equator, this range
runs until it unites with the volcanoes, the most celebrated of
which are the Chimborazo and the Cotopaxi. There we see with
wondering eyes peaks which seem to touch the very heavens, and
often appear cut by the clouds and reduced to vapour. These
peaks then break into three divisions. One takes the north-west
direction until it reaches the sea of the Antilles, another passes
through the centre joining the above and reaches the Antilles
while the third turns to the north-east on the east of the Orinoco,
enters the State of Venezuela and reaches the sea of the Antilles.
It is said that the hottest part of the earth’s interior is at the
Equator. Those who live in the Isthmus say that the mouth of
the interior furnace or of hell is on the Isthmus. Also it is said
that thence one can also go straight to Heaven, if not too immersed
in earthly things—if so immersed, one falls into hell, and, amongst
other miseries, there is the gnashing of teeth. In the whole length
of the Andes exist active volcanoes, which, in the neighbourhood
of the Equator, are so violent that one of them by its eruption
—the Cotopaxi—has formed another mountain right beside it. The
Andes run along Columbia, presenting to the sight many pretty
and imposing views; thence it continues on through Central Amer-

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ica and Mexico, where we also find extremely active volcanoes.
Entering into the United States, they bear the name of Rocky
Mountains along the west coast. Then, taking a course through
Alaska to Asia, they reach the Aleutian Islands, forming a con¬
nection between the Arctic and Antarctic, having on the west the
Pacific Ocean. In the north of Asia there is another chain that
runs along the other side, and to the west there is another volcanic
chain that seems to merge into and lose itself in the sea, though
it reappears in Australia, where it throws up volcanoes, renowned
for their peculiarities, which are crowned here and there, as it
were with lakes of fire. The Pacific Ocean seems closed, both
on the east and the west, by an unbroken chain of volcanic moun¬
tains. I have described the Andes for you, because our fellow-
passengers, who know we are travelling over and will probably
cross the Andes at Valparaiso, speak a great deal of the Andes,
and their beauty and the facts which make them famous—^very
often with maps in their hands—and thus every point is described
so vividly that I imagine I can touch it with my hand. Having
to cross the Aconcagua, I shall have something to tell you about
it. In the meanwhile, I think the Cordigliera presents a good
lesson to the Missionary, running as it does all over the earth,
without fear of seas, atmosphere, unhealthy places, etc. and almost
teaching us when it rises towards Heaven with its great heights
and when it humbles itself, hiding itself in the waves of the sea; it
preaches also when it sends out fire, smoke and lava, adding force
to the winds that lash within its gorges. In Boyaca, for instance,
especially in the Popayan, to which place we have been invited, it
thunders terribly every day, with lightning that seems to reduce
one to ashes; so in all this one can very easily find food for pious
meditation, on death.

October 3Ht. Iquique. Within the space of a few days we
stopped at four ports—Iquique, Tocohilla, Cobija and Antofagasta.
We had hoped to reach Iquique early in the morning so as to
be able to go to Holy Communion, but the steamer arrived a
little late at Pasagua, and the Superintendent of the port would
not let us land, so we had to pass the night there on board. In
the morning the staff was very busy importing and exporting the
merchandise, as well as in receiving and landing passengers. Hav-

127

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ing arrived at Iqiiique at night, the vessel loaded very hurriedly,
for we were a day behind and the Captain did not wish to lose any
more time. We had sufficient leisure, however, to go ashore before
sunset and pay our respects to the Bishop, as Monsignor Macchi
desired us to do, and so we seized the opportunity of meeting that
worthy Prelate who is a real missionary to a population of twenty-
five thousand inhabitants. The first thing he did on taking up his
episcopal duties was to build a beautiful and very devotional church,
and he has since laid the foundation stone of a second, which he
hopes to complete in six months, an easy task here,- as the churches
are made of wood. We visited the Blessed Sacrament rather
hurriedly, as the evening was far advanced and we did not relish
the prospect of committing ourselves to the waves in the dark,
more especially in this open port and for a distance of five miles.

Mother Chiara, who finds this voyage very long, thought we
had reached the Red Sea to open a mission in Africa; it is very
funny, indeed, the waters are of a bright red colour—blood colour,
in fact. Perhaps it tends to remind us of the heavy wars between
Chili and Peru, in 18S0, when so many fell victims, especially
among the soldiers of Peru. At the summit of the mountains,
which run along the coast, and form a kind of wall, the Peruvian
soldiers took up their position, but were surrounded by the Chilians,
who are noted for their strength both on land and sea. They were
driven over the edge and then precipitated, both horses and men,
into the sea, and to such a depth (which in these parts always
extends to some miles) that not even the remains of the com¬
batants could be recovered by the Peruvians.

Iquique is lovely; its roads are large and straight, it has also
pretty houses, though they are not very high, and well-kept shops,
especially those of the Italians, who are quite numerous, and who
are very comfortably circumstanced and are held in respect. There
is, however, not a tree nor a blade of grass to be found anywhere.
Neither is there a well nor a stream. Water for drinking and
for domestic purposes has to be procured at the distance of a
day’s journey from the town, and so also with regard to cereals,
flour, fruit, vegetables, wine, olives, sugar, coffee, forage, almost
everything has to be imported by sea from other countries, so
you may imagine what it costs to live in this city. Fortunately,
it is inhabited by the rich, who pay the poor well, so that all

128

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

live comfortably. The air is good, but the people here do not
live long, and foreigners, who are not very strong, fall into rapid
decline. Notwithstanding, the emissaries of the devil have pene¬
trated here and have done grave harm. How is it that the
emissaries of the devil have less fear than the followers of Christ ?
Let us reflect on this, to humble ourselves, for often we think
of health and dangers before we give ourselves up to our Divine
Lord, the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Since we left Panama, we had on board a Protestant minister,
one of the worst type, being an Irishman from the north-east of
Ireland. This minister came from Chicago and is stopping at
Iquique. You should have seen how he tried to capture, now one
and then another of the young men. With one he stayed till mid¬
night preaching his errors. Fortunately, the young man, as did the
others, made light of him and his statements. When he saw that
they made fun of him, he began preaching Liberty of Conscience,
but he only made matters worse for himself, and then, with his
Bible in his hand, he tried to force his diabolical interpretations on
his listeners. He finished off by becoming, both he and his wife,
objects of ridicule. So far things were most consoling. He thought
he was going to find those who would drink in the doctrine he
offered them, but instead, he met with excellent Spanish-Ameri-
cans, who were well instructed in their religion. But at Iquique, I
fear he will play havoc. The only hope lies in the strength of the
Bishop, who is studying every means to weaken the efforts of these
proselytizers and repair the harm they do. See how dangerous
these times are to our faith, to our august religion and to sound
morals, for the emissaries of Satan, violent apostles of unrestrained
liberty and freedom of speech, make use of all kinds of oppor¬
tunities and snares, and go not only into the towns, but even into
remote villages to spread their errors and doctrines, which are,
as you know, condemned by the Church. It seems as if all the
diabolical powers of hell have combined in directing their satanic
efforts to combat and persecute the Church, her doctrines and her
morals, her laws, her worship, her ministers, and all that she
possesses of holiness and reverence. In the meantime, the weak,
lukewarm, incautious, drink in the venemous errors, the fatal
maxims of which pervert the mind and corrupt the heart, miserably
dragging innumerable souls to eternal perdition. One cannot but

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

129

grieve over this terrible war which the demon never ceases to rage
against our holy Religion. One trembles for the frightful future
that awaits the world if God does not show an efficacious way
out, which must be something out of the ordinary, as the evils
that are now affecting the Church are extraordinary.

Continuing our journey, and passing several ports, we arrived
at Antofagasta, an important port for the merchants of Sucre
and Potose. It was a lovely morning, and we were longing to
receive Holy Communion in order to be able to overcome the
dangers and vehemence of the foaming waves, which at every
stroke seemed about to capsize the boat. Antofagasta is a lovely
city, which is being magnified by the construction of beautiful
houses, squares and pleasant walks. It has one Catholic Church
which is really beautiful, and which helps one’s devotion and is
an aid to recollection. On our arrival, one Mass was just being
finished, but another began immediately, as if providentially ar¬
ranged for us. So we received Holy Communion and refreshed
ourselves spiritually after the long fast we had been forced to
make. When we had finished our devotions, we visited the parish
priest, who is a very pious and zealous man. He was delighted
to see us, hoping we would open a House there, but he was equally
disappointed when he heard what our destination was. He learnt
all he could about our Colleges, hoping that some day we might
settle there. We made calls at Tocopilla, Cobija, Taltal, Caldera,
Calligol, and also at Coquimbo, where we spent the day, and where
we rejoiced at seeing some vegetation, after having sailed for so
many days along the dry arid coasts, where at night one could
not enjoy the bracing sea air because it is marred by the fog
which rises from the land steeped in saltpetre. This fog falls
in the shape of very fine rain, and instead of restoring, dries
up every plant it meets and shortens the lives of the people who
live there. At Coquimbo we found that Spring was advancing,
and from the neighbouring city—Serena, so famous in Chili—there
arrived an abundance of lovely fruit, peaches, pears, figs, melons
and cucumbers, and all such things that one would expect, not
merely in Spring but also in the Summer and Autumn. The grape,
however, ripens only once a year, i.e., in the month of January,
when it is full Summer, whilst we in Lombardy freeze like crows.

At last the dear steamer, Mapocho, arrived at Valparaiso, our

130

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destination, the following morning. After having passed the
length of that long desert, one seems to have entered the Vale of
Heaven. It is a beautiful harbour, much like that of Genoa, and,
like it, also, favoured by nature. It is really charming. It seems
a large city, and appears larger than it is, for it is built on the
slope of a hill, or, to speak more correctly, on the boot of the
Cordigliera. It is so steep that from the lower part of the town,
which consists of a long row of cottages, you ascend by means of
a funicular railway, which resembles a house lift, and, looking
out of the windows, you discover you are hanging over a deep
precipice. Mother Chiara closed her eyes, for it made her feel
faint. As soon as we got into Valparaiso itself, we went to Mr.
E. Escobar, who is a very distinguished person and to whom we
had been recommended, but there was great sorrow and desolation
in his family, for Mrs. E. Escobar was very ill and almost on
the point of death. The relatives, who had come to help and
console him, were ill also. Mr. Escobar, however, wanted to see
us and to show his interest in us. He sent us to the excellent
parish priest. Padre Manero, who, in return, recommended us to
the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, who have a very nice School
here. These good ladies received us as if we were their sisters,
and would not let us leave them. We had our luggage to see to,
as also our crossing the Cordigliera. We then went to visit Mr.
Severin, another friend, to whom we had been recommended. He
was very kind and very energetic. He took all our luggage and
deposited it in his own business premises, ready for despatch to
Buenos Aires at the proper moment. As his family is at Santiago,
he asked us to go there and visit them, and also the city itself,
which is really beautiful and deserves a visit. Even the Ladies
of the Sacred Heart extended a similar invitation. They wrote
to their House there in order that a room might be prepared for
us. Four days later we boarded the train, and passed along the
charming coast, which resembles the western coast of Genoa.
Then we passed through superb villages, and entered the moun¬
tainous region at the foot of the Cordigliera. After passing through
the great plains, we reached Santiago. The journey lasted four
days. We went to the Convent as if going to one of our own,
and were received with great cordiality. The day afterwards we
visited His Grace, Archbishop Monsicasanova, who is held in

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

131

great esteem by the whole Republic. He received us very kindly,
and thought we had come to open a House, but when he heard
I was on my way to Buenos Aires, he assumed an authoritative
tone and said I had to rest a few months there after such a long
voyage, and in the meantime visit the country and settle on a
foundation, to which I should return as soon as possible. Though
his words were very pleasant to listen to, they were really like
so many thorn pricks to my heart, as I saw that I was losing
time in travelling whilst I had so much to do, and the time seems
to pass so quickly. But it is useless to worry about it, as the
Company of the Cordigliera can afford us no means of passage
owing to the mountain roads being closed to traffic by the snow,
which is about three metres high, and the road will not be passable
until November. We must have patience, for nothing happens by
accident. Everything takes place according to the all-wise Time
Table of Divine Providence. God has His designs, and wishes
me, perhaps, to acquire a good knowledge of the Republic of Chili.
In fact, both the Sisters and Mr. Severin are so good. Mrs. Severin
takes us out for carriage drives almost every day, so we have an
opportunity of getting to know the country well. Santiago is very
nice and interesting. It has wonderful churches, beautiful build¬
ings, stupendous squares and magnificent gardens, with enclosures
for animals and fountains for fish, displaying every kind of plant
representative of every climate and country.

The character of the Chilians is gay, open, strong and energetic.
They love progress almost to excess. We showed them several of
our prospectuses. Thus they became acquainted with the instruc¬
tion given in our Schools and tried their best to make us stay,
promising to fill our School with children. Amongst other great
men of the Republic, one, who has a child four years old, said,
'‘You must come back within two years' time; if not, during the
war we have with the Argentines we'll take you prisoner, and then
make you open a School for us here, as I want to send my little
girl to you."

I spent twenty-five long days here, long, indeed, for me, as I
did not want to lose time. Finally, they informed us that the roads
were open and that the first caravan was about to start. Both the
Sisters and other good friends tried to detain us, saying that the
first journey over the Andes is often dangerous, and that if we

132

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

were overtaken by bad weather, we should be in danger of losing
our lives amidst the mountainous passes. But nothing could in¬
duce me to stop longer and continue that involuntary rest. I felt
I was ready to face any difficulty.

We first visited a Chapel of St. Philomena, the Wonder-worker,
so much venerated here. We received Holy Communion at her
altar, begging her to unite with St. Rose in protecting us. We
made our thanksgiving at the back of the church, near an altar
on which is venerated a picture of the martyrdom of the Saint.
Whilst I was absorbed in prayer to the Saint, who inspired me
with great confidence, telling her all my needs and necessities, a
very gentle voice whispered in my ear, “Esta es una pequena
limosnita,'' '‘This is only a small offering.^’ I was so absorbed in
laying my petition before the Saint, that I thought the words
I heard were an illusion of my imagination, and so I made no
movement. Again the soft voice repeated the same words. Then
I raised my head, and, looking round, I saw someone offering me
pieces of gold. I turned and saw it was the holy man, Canon M.
Marchian Pereira, Guardian of the Sanctuary, who very humbly
kept on saying, "Es pequena, es pequena mas es St. Filomena
que la da," and then quickly withdrew. The gift was of the
value of 100 lire, which the good man felt urged to give us without
being asked, and I received it all the more gratefully, as obviously
the good Saint had begun to help us even before we had finished
our petitions to her.

Having finished our thanksgivings, we went to thank the good
Canon, who said he was only too happy to help us, as we were
Missionaries. He made us presents of books, pictures and the cords
of the Saint, which are worn by her devout clients. Then he gave
me an image of the Wonder-worker, asking me to keep it in my
pocket-book. He himself placed it there, saying, "Keep it there.
Mother, and you will never be in need of money for your In¬
stitute." I was very much impressed, as he seemed to be inspired.
You may imagine that I shall treasure this picture as a precious
relic.

On the 23rd of November, supplied with large baskets of pastry,
fruit, wine, honey, etc., and accompanied by a number of ladies
and Si.sters, we took train for Los Andes, a town at the foot

Pananm to Biienos Aires — October, 1895

133

of the Cordigliera, where we were to pass the night, in order to
be ready on the 24th, after having observed the Feast of the day,
for the journey by caravan, which was to pick us up in a place
further on.

At Los Andes we were received most kindly by the Sisters called
Hospitallers, to whom we had been recommended by the people
of Santiago. They gave us the best room in their poor Convent.
The next morning, other Sisters of the same Order, from another
House in the neighbourhood, came to bid us farewell and accom¬
pany us in the train as far as the Chilians have been able to go,
up to the present, with their railways up these great mountains,
which, the higher we go, the steeper and higher they seem to run.

At eleven a.ni., after having heard Holy Mass and received
Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, Who, like a Valiant
Giant, was going to conduct us over these great heights; after
having had a good breakfast, which, owing to the keen air, seemed
to be more appetising than usual; favoured with the blessing of
the good parish priest of the town and accompanied by a larger
company of the good Sisters Hospitaliers, who came in great
numbers, we boarded the train along the river, which has its source
in the Aconcagua. We passed through a chain of mountains in a
pleasant and picturesque country, which, while presenting awe¬
inspiring scenes, greatly delighted the passengers. We crossed a
small bridge, called the "‘Soldier's Jump," feared by everyone. It
spans a chasm between two rocks of grey stone so narrow and
deep that the bottom cannot be seen. One only hears the strange
rumbling of the rushing waters in the fearful depths below. Cer¬
tainly, if anyone had the misfortune to fall into this abyss, they
would never again behold the light of day, nor would it be known
what manner of death they had had. It did not make much of an
impression on me, because I seemed to remember having seen
many of such horrifying chasms. I, however, enjoyed the impres¬
sion made on these good Sisters, and how enthusiastically they
spoke of it as they drew near to and passed over it, and how
they pitied us with regard to the rest of the journey that awaited
us. Shortly after we had passed the “Soldier's Jump," the train
stopped and we alighted to take our places in the coaches that
were drawn up to convey the passengers. The good Sisters re¬
turned by train, after having helped us to make ourselves as com-

134

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

fortable as possible, while we with good mules—six to each coach,
following always the course of the same river—penetrated into
those vast gorges where only now and then a few pines of harsh
colour and dark green appeared.

The river was swollen, and in several places its foaming waters
with their milky spray made a terrifying noise. Further on it
looked as if we were going to be covered by the mountain, as a
part of it appeared to fall over the river. At some points the
heights were magnificent, whilst behind the mountain the river
descended in the form of a precipitous cascade. Then suddenly
it slackened its force and took the form of a small torrent, the
waters of which seemed to play with the pebbles, and, amidst the
enonnous rocks, deposited in the bed of the river. Then it
widened again to thousands of bends, which we had to follow
with great exactitude, as the river was our only guide along the
route. Finally, after a journey of five or more hours, we reached
Juneal, which consists of a few houses amidst the mountain peaks.
This was to be our grand lodging for the night.

Some arrived earlier, other later, than ourselves. We were
about forty-five passengers, who, early the next morning, were to
undertake, in a caravan with mules, the journey through the most
difficult pass of the Cordigliera. As soon as the coaches arrived,
the passengers rushed to go to bed for the night. We made our
way also, but, as the others were quicker, they arrived first and
consequently were served first. Not knowing what to do, we went
to the one who was to drive the caravan the next day, and, as he
inspired us with very little confidence, we were very cautious in
our dealings with him. At first he was somewhat rude, but finally,
at our repeated requests, he softened towards us. He told us that
on the other side of the mountain, where he pointed with his
finger, there were first-class apartments, better than these, where
he and his wife were going to put up, and that if we went there
after supper we would find everything all right.

Shortly afterwards an old man, of pleasant aspect, resembling
somewhat St. Joseph, said to me, ‘T am one of the muleteers
appointed to act as guide to one of you to-morrow, and as I am
going to sleep on the other side of the mountain, you need have
no fear/' His kind way and serious character inspired us with
confidence, and so we went to table with more courage, and ate

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

135

of the coarse and badly cooked food and hard black bread as if
it were the most dainty food, for the air of the village sharpened
our appetites in a most extraordinary manner.

At table all spoke of the morrow’s crossing; some of its great
dangers, others of their fear of the mists which are fatal to those
who are crossing the Pass. Stories were also told of the frost that
in some of the passes freezes the limbs, and of the atmosphere
which hurts the eyes and causes the skin to bleed.

A delightful description, indeed! Still, with all this discourage¬
ment, I felt safe and happy, for I knew if Our Lord had so far
helped and blessed us. He would do so to the end. I also took
comfort in the hope of meeting with something new which I could
tell you, since, to myself, after four long voyages, everything
appeared quite familiar. I felt sorry for Mother Chiara, who
heard all this, and who, I thought, might have changed her mind
after her departure from Valparaiso. But when I asked her which
way she preferred to travel, by land or sea, over the Andes or
through the Straits of Magellan, she answered, ‘‘A thousand times
over the Andes rather than by sea again.” So I said to myself.
“All is well.”

When the meal was over, we took a little air in the bright moon¬
light, which shone very brilliantly. The mountains appeared to
touch the sky and seemed covered with a beautiful blue mantle,
and raised us to a state of sublime ecstasy. The earth had the
colour of the sky, while the passes of the mountains wore a blue
of a darker shade, and gave one the idea of great clouds saluting
their smiling queen. And really, that night the moon in all its
splendour seemed to represent to us the beauty of our Queen,
our Mother Mary, “pulchra ut Luna,” who had come to console
us with her maternal look. Those who work in the Lord’s Vine¬
yard from morning till night are well rewarded if at the close of
the day they receive a loving look from her who, after God, forms
the happiness of the Blessed in Heaven.

We wanted to prepare the points for our meditation, but nature
had already prepared them for us. Looking at the moon and slcy,
which seemed turned towards us, I thought I heard the sweet
voice of Mary, with that of the most melodious voice of our dear
Jesus, transporting us into an ecstasy of love. Methinks I saw
the purity and holiness of Mary and the complacency of God in

136

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

her. What a great sweetness, what a greay joy in contemplating
Jesus! But the night was advancing, and we had to go to rest,
though it did not seem we should need sleep in this fine air. We
abandoned ourselves to the care of our Heavenly Mother, and to
her messengers who are the Angels particularly destined for
pilgrims. Happy and tranquil, we turned towards the shelter on
the other side of the mountains.

Reaching a certain point, we lost our breath. A sort of weight
oppressed us, and we could not understand what it was. Then
we saw the old shepherd who resembled St. Joseph, running
towards us to tell us to hasten, as we had reached the ‘‘puna,”
a Spanish word meaning shortness of breath caused by the unstable
temperature. We hastened our steps, and soon reached the spot
where the air was pure and bracing. It was, indeed, a strange
phenomenon, this shortness of breath in these mountains, and, if
we had stopped longer, we might have died of suffocation. But
the silver moon still shone in its silent language telling us that
Mary, the Mother of God, still watched and protected us with
incomparable tenderness.

Having reached the inn, we found, what we had never expected
to find amidst these rough mountains, a beautiful spring bed with
good bedding, which the old man pointed out to us with much
satisfaction and pleasure. He told us there was a key, and we
could close ourselves in by barring the door. He told us also
not to fear, for he would be in the stable next to the mules’ stables
if we needed anything—an admirable instance of God’s Providence,
and we reposed quite tranquilly. But the night passed in a moment,
and at half-past three the noise of the shepherds preparing the
mules and packing the luggage awoke us suddenly. We felt more
tired than the night before, as we had had very rough treatment
during our five-hour coach drive. We mustered up courage, how¬
ever, arose at four a.m., and dressed ourselves in long brown
cloaks trimmed and lined with a kind of cheap fur, which were
given to us by some ladies of Chili. We looked like two monks,
but we began to feel the cold, and these cloaks were of great
service to us.

We descended to the first inn, where all were breakfasting, and
we took our milk and coffee and hard bread as fast as we could,
as everything was ready for the journey. We went out into the

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137

open and saw two beautiful mules, with new equipment and two
comfortable saddles. We thought they were for an opera singer
and her companion who formed part of the company—but this
time we were mistaken, for the nicest mules were for us, orders
having been given that they should be assigned to us by the
Superintendent of the Transandine Company. However, thankful
we were for the favour, we were not so willing to accept it, be¬
cause it meant that we were to be the first to mount the mules,
and, not being experienced, we preferred to see the others do so
first in order to learn the art; but we had to give in. The St.
Joseph of the previous evening came forward and stood with
crossed hands so that I could mount the mule. As I refused, the
whole company stood around to see what was going to happen next.
The poor shepherd, so good and patient, went into the house and
brought me a chair, which I accepted willingly. I then mounted,
placing myself in the saddle and putting my feet in the stirrup,
while taking the reins, I drew the mule round whilst the muleteer
mounted his mule, and, moving forward, made way for me.
Mother Chiara followed my example, accompanied by another
muleteer, who, though he might not have resembled my St.
Joseph, was very good also. All the others mounted their mules
with much less trouble and followed us in processiop.

The mountain was steep, but the pass for more than an hour
was lovely and smooth. It was almost a pleasure to see the long
procession that appeared to be climbing with a certain devotion,
as the caravan looked like a devout band of pilgrims—so it
seemed to me. Taking my beads in my hand, I was about to
invite all to recite the Rosary in honour of the Queen of Heaven
who had so blessed the day, and all certainly would have willingly
replied to my invitation, as they seemed quite pleased to have in
their company two Religious who appeared to them, owing to
their goodness and faith, to be a guarantee for a prosperous
journey across the Cordigliera. My project of the Rosary vanished
very soon, for the beaten path had disappeared and we were
obliged to make our way through the heavy snow. Two muleteers
proceeded in advance, and having found it passable, shouted for
us to follow their track. When we had got over one difficulty,
another appeared. Afterwards, we found ourselves on the brink
of precipices many kilometres deep. Then I tried to keep my

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mule away from the edge, but the poor thing, knowing that it
had an unpractical traveller in its saddle, always kept going
straight, no matter how much I pulled it from one side to the
other, and thus it would not obey me. When it approached too
near the edge of a precipice, I shouted and spoke to it in Spanish,
but to no purpose. The only thing that seemed to hurt it was
when I attempted to alight.

These terrible precipices almost turned Mother Chiara’s head,
and, no matter how often I told her to sit straight, she lay like
a sack of flour on the mule’s back, her head resting on the poor
animal’s neck. Fortunately, the muleteers were more than good,
and as in such difficulties one has enough to do to attend to
oneself, I felt sure they would not fail Sister.

Gradually we ascended higher and higher, when from afar we
heard the shout for all to alight. Something’s the matter. A great
chasm caused by the melting snow was an obstacle to further
progress, unless we proceeded with great precaution. There was
a general alarm; the men grumbled about the imprudence of
conducting the caravan by this route, and the women cried quite
hopelessly. Mother Chiara remained in deep silence. She lost her
speech. Certainly she now repented of having chosen the Cordig-
liera instead of the Magellan for our journey. Her only consolation
was that when she raised her head I looked quiet and happy as
one enjoying a magnificent spectacle. It was truly grand in
all its horror. We were at a height where one perceived an
immense abyss on one side, whilst on the other there was a vast
expanse of pure white snow, while further ahead there were heights
awaiting us. But just in front of us was that large crevice, long
and deep, which seemed ready to swallow us up and bury us.
The muleteers, though not without fear, tried to make some of
the mules jump the crevice, and seeing that it could be done,
encouraged the passengers to do the same. I, as you have heard,
was at the head of the line, and I was willing to be the first to
go forward in order to encourage the others, for, to speak truth¬
fully, I was not a bit afraid, feeling quite calm. My guide had his
staff ready, as he thought he would have to carry me across, but
I told him I could take longer jumps than the one across the
crevice. He very respectfully showed me the danger, and then
watched me attentively, knowing I would not fail to tell him

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139

or call him if I needed help. I jumped, or at least attempted to,
but, probably owing to the cold and the keen air which deprived
me of strength, I realized too late that I was like a feather, which,
however much it is thrown forward, does not move unless carried
by the wind; and so I should have buried myself alive had it not
been for the muleteer, who, seeing the danger, dismounted and,
stretching his feet across the crevice, held me back on one side of
the chasm until he, with the help of his comrade, sprang across
to the other side, where he drew me by the arm after him into
safety. The shock produced such palpitation of the heart that I
thought I should have died. The good muleteer took me aside,
and I fell fainting in the snow. I couldn’t speak a word, and it
was obvious from the frightened looks of the good man that he
expected a tragedy. But this was not God’s Will. As soon as I
was able to speak, I told him to go and help the others; and I
hadn’t to tell him twice, as the need was urgent. I remained
alone, stretched on that white bed of snow, and little by little,
helped by the pure air, the palpitation ceased, and I was as lively
as ever. I arose to find that all had crossed the dangerous pass
and that the muleteer was waiting for me to mount my mule again.

We resumed our journey, and arrived at a higher point where
we had to go through snow five metres high, which had been cut
through by the Transandine Company for the caravan. It was
a grand sight in passing through the fortress of snow, but not
quite so pleasant to myself; as I was afraid of not being able to
bear the cold. They told me to keep on my eye-glasses, so that
the cold and great whiteness of the snow should not injure my
sight, but I preferred to see where my mule went, not trusting to
my eye-glasses, which I did not find very helpful. Pulling the
elastic, I put them sometimes on my forehead, sometimes on my
chin, but not in front of my eyes, except when I was obliged to
look closely. In God’s good time we reached the ‘‘Cumbre,”
which is the topmost height which can be crossed in the neigh¬
bourhood of Aconcagua, and here we remained some time.

What a majestic sight, what a charming view! We seemed to
see the whole world at a glance. There we saw the boundary line
between Chili and Argentine. We had said good-bye to that
dear country in which we had lodged or sojourned for a month,
and which, unknown as we were, had proffered us every care and

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attention. We wanted to enjoy the sea view, but the fog was
descending, and so we were deprived of that enchanting sight.
The muleteer made signs to me to mount the mule at once, but
I begged him to let me enjoy this sublime and inspired moment
of meditation. A little perturbed, he turned and begged me to
get into the saddle. The poor man had every reason, for it was
past eleven, and within half-an-hour’s time the atmosphere of the
mountains would have proved fatal to us.

Just about the same time, from the other side of the top of the
mountain, one of those good employees of the Transandine Com¬
pany arrived upon the scene, and, after saluting us courteously,
told us that he had orders from Santiago to come and meet us,
and, if possible, to make our journey a little easier. He then took
my reins and conducted my mule down the steep mountain by
the shortest paths. The descent was steep and stony. I thought I
should fall every moment. The mule would slip now and again,
but this good man encouraged me, and told me we had to keep
to this path in order to get as soon as possible to a comfortable
hotel. We reached there at midday, whilst the snow fell heavily
and the mountain had entirely disappeared in a thick fog.

The landlady of the hotel received us with a motherly heart and
placed us at table, where lunch was already prepared and which
we enjoyed, as it warmed us after the cold we had experienced.
When lunch was over, they called the heads of the different families
one after another to write their impressions in a large register
kept for that purpose. Our companions on the journey had been
very much upset when they had to cross the crevice, so you may
imagine what they wrote. I, however, wrote one of my most
beautiful impressions of that passage. The hotel-keeper and all
were surprised to see what I wrote, and said I was the first
person, especially at this dangerous time of the year, who spoke
well of this crossing, and more so because the writer was not a man.
The fact is, that I was very pleased and happy to have ascended
such a high mountain, and, therefore, incidentally have an induce¬
ment to excite or incite myself to ascend the heights of holy per¬
fection, a mountain much higher than that of the Cordigliera.

The Celestial Divine Spouse calls His beloved with the sweet
name of Columba, '‘Una est Columba mea—dilecta mea.” He calls
her Columba, not only because she should be gentle, meek and

Panama to Bnenos Aires — October, 1895

141

mild, but because she has to fly the heights of the Lord, without
tiring, rising continually towards Heaven with perfect detachment
from earth, raising herself on silvery white wings by the purity
of her affections and intentions.

About two p.m. the coaches were ready to convey us to the
station, “Punta de Vaca.’’ We set out up the slopes and down
the valleys. We travelled along the Mendoza River, by way of
a path rough and dangerous, owing to the rocks that seemed
to crush us at every instant, and owing also to the breaks of the
great river, which looked rather dangerous.

At seven p.m. we arrived at the Punta de Vaca, where we
expected to repose quietly, after the shaking we had had on the
mule and in the coaches, but, an hour before we arrived, the caravan
from the Argentine, which the next day was to cross the Andes,
had reached Punta de Vaca and had taken possession of all the
accommodation. What were we to do? The bell rang to go to
supper, and we took our places at table with our luggage beside
us on the floor, not knowing where to place it in safety. When
the frugal meal was over, I asked the inn-keeper to give us a place
to rest if possible. He very courteously said he had not received
any orders regarding us, but that we were not to be alarmed,
because he would very soon be able to provide us with beds. In the
meantime, night was advancing, and the only room in the inn was
full of men drinking. At nine p.m. I again begged the inn-keeper
to give us a room, and he said he would do so immediately. Half-
an-hour later he told me all the beds were taken except one in the
hall, which of course I did not accept. So I turned and sat down at
the table in the corner of the room with Mother Chiara.

It was now ten p.m., and the men went on drinking; the alcohol
was producing its effects, and we heard a lot of movement, shout¬
ing and singing. I then began to feel uneasy; but, looking around,
I saw an American gentleman from San Francisco who had crossed
the Andes with us and, like us, had been unable to get a bed. I
prayed him to remain near us, as I feared those men. He was
the only one amongst that excited crowd who inspired me with
any confidence. He felt so sorry for us that he induced the inn¬
keeper to give us a room in which there were two good ladies and
a boy, but the boy retired to make room for us. We called down
hearty blessings on that good man, and fell upon our beds exhausted

142

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

and motionless till the morning. At seven a.m. we were at the
station and took train. Still travelling along the Mendoza River,
we crossed new mountains and valleys, and in the afternoon
reached Mendoza, the first and nicest city on the way from Chili.

We were received by the Good Shepherd Sisters, and it was a
great relief for us to find a safe religious home after such a journey
and nights of fear and danger. We visited the lovely churches of
this city and then went to the Jesuits, who encouraged us greatly
in our mission to Buenos Aires by the news they gave us. They
told us we should have enough work to do there. We visited the
Franciscans, who blessed us as Sisters of the Third Order of
St. Francis. Our next visit was to the Slaves of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus, a newly-founded Institute in Cordova. The Sisters
received us with great kindness, and they would have kept us for
a few days had we not already arranged our journey with the
Argentine railway company. We were to leave the next night,
when we would be crossing the Pampas at great speed for two
days, and with very few stops.

The Pampas is beautiful! It is an immense plain, where only
now and then one sees a peasant’s hut, lost, as it were, in the
immensity of the expanse. We saw horses and mules in great
numbers, flocks of sheep and goats at pasture in all directions,
without a guide, in that never-ending country, the boundaries of
which the owner knows nothing about nor cares to know. Now
and then we could see skeletons of animals and carcasses not buried,
left there, abandoned. But the train flew on without minding any¬
thing in the midst of the long thick grass of the virgin prairies,
and on December 1st we arrived at the capital of the Argentine.
Now I must stop, with the promise to write as soon as I have
finished my work on this foundation, when I shall return to you
and then go elsewhere, as obedience ordains.

Let us live in the meanwhile abandoned to the Will of God.
I shall work in His vineyard, you helping me with your prayers,
in which I so much confide. Prayer, confidence and total abandon¬
ment in God will always be our sure arms 1 We are good for
nothing, but in God we can do all things. ‘^Omnia possum in Eo
qui me confortat.”

May God bless you and close you in His Adorable Heart, where¬
in resides the throne of peace, an anticipated Heaven. Love Jesus

Panama to Buenos Aires — October, 1895

143

much, and think of nothing else. Work with great zeal for the
glory of God, under the banner of holy Obedience. Do not seek
rest on this earth, but be ready to die on the battlefield in
company with Jesus, with the assurance that the more you fight
the greater will be your crown, a crown that in Eternity no one
can usurp.

Such is the wish of

Yours affectionately, in The Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Mother Frances Saverio Cabrini.

CHAPTER VIII

(J3ueno6 to d^arceic

^^ug.udty 1896

ona

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

Buenos Aires,

August 8th, 1896.

My dear Daughters,

Jesus be with you, and may His most sweet peace draw you to
His Adorable Heart, and retain you there by the superabundance
of His Divine Love.

How lovely it is to journey under the mantle of Mary Immacu¬
late, who is attired in blue and white, and who sheds about her
rich silver rays!

It was an hour after mid-day on the 8th of August, when, after
eight months spent in founding the Academy of Saint Rose, blessed
so much by the Sacred Heart, I began my return journey to you,
after two years absence from our dear and beloved Mothef House,
the centre of our most sublime aspirations, where we imbibed the
essence of the most beautiful virtues, which should enable us to
be an example to the world, and so be able to convert it. “You
are the light of the world, the salt of the earth,’’ Jesus said,
when from the mountain He spoke to His Apostles. And you.
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, belong in a certain measure to
the Apostolic family. Have you not to continue the Apostolate
of the great Mission of Christ? To you also is entrusted the
Mission of being the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
How can we accomplish such a difficult and sublime task? It is
very easy when you have the heavenly protection of the Virgin
of the Argentine, so revered by the people of Buenos Aires. She
is dressed in blue and white, with rose-coloured lips, and carries
an angelic smile, that diffuses silver rays which convince and
inspire confidence and illuminate without injuring the eyes, despite

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146 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

their brilliancy. She is as white as the snow in her immaculate
purity; she is heavenly in her grace and demeanour, all celestial
in her majesty as Queen of Heaven, in her nobleness of mind and
in the magnanimity of her thoughts. She is silver by reason of
the rays of light which emanate from the heroic virtues she
practised, which form a halo around her head and render her face
shining and majestic. The Areopagite spoke well, when, after the
Ascension of Our Lord, he pictured Our Lady as a Missionary
encouraging and consoling the devout faithful: 'Tf I had not known
there was only one true Lord and God, I should have prostrated
and adored Holy Mary as a Divinity.’' And the help needed to
imitate our Holy Mother Mary is to be found in herself, if with
great faith we place ourselves under her mantle of protection. If
you find Mary, you find all. ‘Tnventa Maria inveniuntur omnia
bona, ipsa enim diligit diligentes se, imo sibi servientibus servit.”

If we venerate so many Saints, and witness so many miraculous
wonders in souls, all these graces come from that immense source
of blessings which is Jesus Himself, and through that inexhaustible
channel of grace which is Mary. Have faith in Mary, endeavour
with great earnestness to imitate her virtues, because, at every
moment, this Mother of divine love responds with the words
the Church puts into her mouth: ‘T give fruit of a pleasing odour,
my flowers are the fruits of glory and sanctity.”

Mindi! These words are not intended for you by way of a
reproach because of the sterility of your works. You, who by
celestial grace, have been transplanted in the fertile field of the
Church, and in that glorious garden of the religious life, what
fruits have you realised? Perhaps leaves only, or some faded
flowers, which die on the bushes the very day they opened their
petals? No, daughters, henceforth let there be seen in you true
devotion to Our Lady, our Mother and Foundress. That devotion
consists in the imitation of her great virtues. But let us return
to our journey.

I carry in my mind imperishable memories of Buenos Aires.
Having arrived on the 10th of December, after having crossed the
Pampas from Mendoza to the River de la Plata, I did not know
where to go, not knowing anyone except Reverend Father Brogi,
with whom I had become acquainted two years previously when
he passed through Genoa, having been sent by Reverend Father

Buenos Aires to Barcelona — August, 1896

147

Rinaldi to say Mass at our Convent, the latter having acted as
Chaplain to us at the beginning of our foundation in Genoa. I
took a carriage and, with Mother Chiara, went in search of Father
Brogi, whom we found after a two hours’ journey. He received
us with every mark of kindness, and, after having given us an
excellent dinner a I’ltalienne, accompanied us to the Archbishop,
Monsignor Ladislao Castellano, who received us like a father, and
was pleased to begin his episcopate with a foundation of the
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in his new and extensive diocese.
The Vicar General, Monsignor Espinosa, was present, and encour¬
aged me by giving me several visiting cards to present to the
principal families of the town. I asked him to write something
in the form of an introduction, but he said, good-heartedly, I
could write what I liked. Father Brogi then presented me to the
Secretary General of the Curia, Monsignor Terrero, a very popular
and estimable person in Buenos Aires. He, also, encouraged us,
and later acted as our Chaplain. In so doing he came to our aid
in a great difficulty, as in these parts there is a scarcity of priests.
There was a great stir in the Episcopal Palace owing to the forth¬
coming pilgrimage to the grand Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lujan,
in honour of the installation of the new Archbishop by the Arch¬
bishop of Chili, who had come over purposely, and also in celebra¬
tion of peace between the two countries, which had been fighting
over the boundaries of the two countries. Chili and Argentine.

Amongst the many persons, priests, etc., at the Episcopal Palace,
who encouraged and consoled me, the Reverend Father Kierman
must be mentioned. He was impressed by the great name of
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart which we bear, and was full of
compassion at seeing me so forlorn and suffering, as he said. So
he decided, on the spot, to do all in his power to help me to make
a good foundation. He helped me to make the acquaintance of
all at the Palace, and when he perceived I was a little troubled
and timid, he encouraged me by saying, “Courage, Mother, we
will help you.” And he kept his word and helped us in every
way and in every difficulty, and never left us until he saw the
foundation progressing and on a secure footing. Father Kierman
is a beautiful soul, and to great knowledge he adds an admirable
simplicity. He seems to have adapted to himself Our Lord’s own
words, “Be as simple as the dove and as wise as the serpent.”

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How beautiful it is to see souls who, like doves, fly over the earth,
shedding over it their benign influence without being caught in the
snares of the world. They fly, as it were, with always fresh zest,
anxious to do good even when physical strength is wanting. They
fly without tiring, or, rather, without being conscious of fatigue,
until their works are surrounded by a halo of light, while their
beneficent influence is always of great good because they are blessed
by God. Having finished business at the Curia, Reverend Father
Brogi took me to a very good Italian family, at whose house I
passed the night, and the next day we took up residence at the
Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, Savonese, which had been estab¬
lished in the Argentine twenty years previously. Father Brogi, in
his great charity and nobility of heart, gave me all the necessary
help to commence the foundation, and came every day to present
me to the principal families, and to assist me in getting to know all
the parishes of Buenos Aires. This going about was a great help
to me, because it enabled me to find out which were the best
localities for a new foundation.

After having gained some knowledge of the city, and after
visiting about sixty houses, I decided to take one in the central
part of the town, and, as it pleased the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
I found a very nice house, spacious and well lighted. It was even
better than it seemed to be. Strange to say, many of the ladies
had tried to dissuade me from taking it, as it was rather dear,
saying that for the first two years we should have only six or
seven pupils—not more until the people began to have confidence
in us—but I felt a secret inspiration which I could not account for,
and so I decided to take the house at any price. The courage thus
shown in undertaking a difficult enterprise made a good impression
on the people, so much so, that the principal families brought us
their children, and this went on so well, that, when we left, the
Academy was already full and I had to arrange for a second and
larger house. When everything had been arranged with the land¬
lord, I thought of going into the house at once, and arranged to
open it on a day that would make the opening memorable, viz.,
Christmas Day. The good Sisters of Mercy did everything they
could to prevent my leaving them on such a solemn day, but I
was determined to go, and so, at ten a,m., December 2Sth, Mother
Chiara and I went to our new home. Thus the real Founder

Buenos Aires to Barcelona — August, 1896

149

of the first House of our Institute in the Argentine was the Infant
Jesus, in Whom I placed all my confidence and to Whom I fully
abandoned myself, hoping that He would overcome all my diffi¬
culties, in His tender mercy and immense goodness of Heart.
And the Holy Child knew well how to do it, and wonderfully so.
On the eve of the opening of the House, I sent two telegrams, one
to Codogno and the other to New York, calling several Sisters
who were ready and anxious to assist in the work of the new
foundation. They set out at once, and within a month the Sisters
had arrived from New York, while a little later the other Sisters
reached us from Italy. Mother Chiara and I awaited them with
the greatest anxiety, for, being only two in number, we could not
keep the House going by ourselves, as the requirements of the
House increased every day owing to the clients whom the Dear
Founder had won for this new foundation.

On March 1st the College was opened, and since then the number
of pupils has so exceeded all expectations that I had to send
another telegram calling for more Sisters, as enthusiastic as the
others, and in a short time they were with us. Early in May our
children, so intelligent, were ready to appear before the public.
So we decided to have a solemn inauguration of the College.
According to the custom of the country, a committee of eight
ladies had to be chosen as promoters. They are members of the
principal families, and chosen amongst the best. The first one
selected becomes the Godmother of the School. On this occasion
it was Mrs. Uriburo, the wife of the President of the Republic.

Mr. Buoje, Mayor of Buenos Aires, sent the gardeners of the
public gardens to adorn the House with flowers and boughs. The
Superintendent of the Catholic Club sent men to adorn the chapel
and parlours with curtains, carpets and fringes, etc. At eight a.m.
the next day, the chapel and parlours were full of people awaiting
the arrival of the Archbishop, Monsignor L. Castellano, who cele¬
brated Holy Mass, the solemnity of the occasion being enhanced
by the devotional strains of an orchestra. As soon as the Mass
was over. Monsignor Espinosa delivered the opening allocution,
in which he spoke of our Institute as if he had always known it.
Such is his good-heartedness. After lunch, the Archbishop re¬
turned with many other priests and members of the principal

150

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

families. The formal opening was made conspicuous by the
presence of the Archbishop, Mrs. Uriburo (the President’s wife)
and representatives of the several school authorities. The children
gave an entertainment partly musical and partly recitative, the
event ending in a great chorus and a tableau, in which the Sacred
Heart was represented blessing the New Foundation, and placing
a new diamond in Saint Rose’s crown typical of the new School.
The whole function was so pleasing to everybody that a photo¬
graph had to be taken. It makes an excellent picture, and I shall
bring the photograph to the Mother House. In Buenos Aires
this photograph carries the imprint, 'The Paradise.”

Before beginning the ceremony in the morning, the Archbishop
blessed the Altar, which is very artistic and made in the form of
a temple. It was presented to us by the Rector of Saint Michael’s,
Father John Deleye, a very pious and generous priest, who does
much good, and who himself possesses and loves solid virtue.
He is just one of those souls who lives to do good, and who helps
to constitute the real happiness of a country. He saw us at the
very commencement, when I was alone with Mother Chiara, and
when the House was like a great vase without a single ornament.
He immediately sent us two candlesticks and a beautiful lamp for
the statue of the Sacred Heart, which Maria Brandon, a very
good lady, had given us. She helped us a great deal in the
beginning, and accompanied us in all our visits to the people of
the town. The statue of the Sacred Heart was the first to arrive
in the House, and I thought I should have gone into ecstasy the
first night I was able to recollect myself before that beautiful
image, that seemed to speak and say to me, "My dear daughter,
be quiet, live trustingly, put no limit to your faith; I shall see to
this House through the intercession of my beloved Rosa.” How
good, dear, and amiable is the Sacred Heart! One glance alone,
one word only, falls deeply into the heart, revives and reassures.

We named the College after Saint Rose, according to the promise
I made when I had the pleasure of visiting the relics of the Saint
in Lima. The Saint kept her word. She blessed our voyage, our
arrival in Buenos Aires, and the foundation, and she still continues
to bless the School, for which reason I leave it without any anxiety.
Everyone is pleased at the name of Saint Rose being given to the
School, as she is Patron of the Republics of South America. I

Buenos Aires to Barcelona — August, 1896

151

should love very much to be able to perpetuate this lovely title,
or the new foundation itself, by building a beautiful sanctuary in
her honour. I would do it at once if I were able to find a soul so
good and generous as to give me the means with which to do it.
Not knowing where such a kind person is to be found, I shall
engage the Wonder-worker herself to find a benefactor and bring
him or her to me.

Whilst I have been telling you about the new foundation, we
have already done a good part of our journey. We have reached
Montevideo, where the steamer stopped, and I, with my little
Angel companion, got into the Captain's tender to go ashore under
the guidance of a kind gentleman to whom the Captain had
recommended us, and who took care of us and showed us the
way to the Cathedral. In a very short time we found God's
House, where we were able to receive Holy Communion, which
will satisfy us on our voyage at least as far as Las Palmes in the
Canary Islands, where we hope again to receive the Living God
of the Altar, Jesus Christ, our Love, so that He may fortify and
comfort us for the rest of our voyage.

At Montevideo we were also able to hear Mass, and thus comply
with the Sunday precept. We assisted also at the Pontifical Mass
which was celebrated to implore the glorification of the Venerable
Gianelli, Founder of the Sisters ‘'dell 'Orto," and Bishop of Bobbio.
We then visited the city for a little while, which is well worth
seeing. There are beautiful roads, spacious squares, sumptuous
monuments and splendid gardens. All its features gain much
from the fact that the city is built on a hill almost surrounded by
the sea on either side. It presents an enchanting view, combined
with excellent climate.

It is a rather large place, but not too thickly populated. The
commerce is not great, as the city is near Buenos Aires, which
monopolises everything on account of the immense progress made
there every day.

Montevideo is lovely, and we like it because it is laid out in
European style; but Buenos Aires is beautiful and large, and if,
to-day, it is not in accord with our taste, the reason is only because
in its vastness it is a mixture of good and bad. For instance, you
may walk about ten “cuadre," which would be about a kilometre,
and you imagine you see before you the beautiful palaces of Paris,

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Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

when immediately following, for about twenty blocks, or two
kilometres, you see nothing but small dwellings of one storey
high, so small that they seem buried in the earth. After another
long journey, one finds beautiful, sumptuous palaces, the Recoleta
and, more especially, the Street Alvear, which are really charming.
Your wonder increases when you visit the Palermo Walk and
public gardens that can rank with the best of their kind in Europe
for their extraordinary pitch of cultivation and magnificent con¬
servatories, as well as for the cultivation of the trees and the
zoological enclosures. The city of Buenos Aires is only ten years
old, but if it advances at the present rate for another ten or twenty
years, it will rival New York, provided that civil disturbances
do not arise and ruin it. Of this, unfortunately, there is always
danger, as the inhabitants are good but of a turbulent disposition.
Recently there was danger of war with Chili over the boundary
question. Buenos Aires clings to her rights, but Chili desires
to appropriate a little more territory, because her boundaries
are so narrow. Lately they agreed, the Argentines having ceded
a part of their land near Tierra del Fuego. The two Arch¬
bishops contributed greatly by their influence and kindly offices
in obtaining this concession, viz.. His Grace, Monsignor Casanova
of Chili, and the new Archbishop of Buenos Aires. On my arrival
at Buenos Aires, both Prelates made a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary
of the Blessed Virgin of Lujan, in company with General Rocca,
President of the Interior, who was acting for President Uriburo,
who, owing to illness, was absent. There were present several high
officials and an immense population. The eloquent Monsignor
Kara, Vicar Apostolic of Valparaiso, gave a magnificent address,
in the course of which he was continually applauded by the two
representatives of the Republic and all the people present. Finally,
after having spoken of the privileges of the Blessed Virgin, and of
the great miracles worked at Lujan, and after having said that
Chili could give nothing worthy of the Blessed Virgin, as she was
already covered with gold from head to foot, he thought the best
gift they could leave in the Sanctuary would be the Flag of Chili,
which would remain as a sign of peaceful accord with their sister
Republic. This was answered by a frenzied cheer from the immense
crowd. It made a peculiar impression upon us to see this renowned
Sanctuary reduced, as it were, to a theatre. But I quickly coun-

Buenos Aires to Barcelona — August, 1896

153

tenanced this kind of irreverence, as it seemed to me, in God’s
Church, when I remembered that these countries had only recently
been civilized through our Holy Religion, and that the faith of the
people, at least, was good, for it leads the rulers to decide the
destinies of the people in God’s own Sanctuary and to invoke the
blessing of God and Our Lady. Mother Chiara and I also went
to the pilgrimage, for as soon as we arrived at the Curia, the
priests, who surrounded us with every attention, gave us first-
class tickets so that we might take part in their great festival.
I accepted the tickets with great pleasure, and as the nation prayed
for peace, I, too, raised my voice in union with theirs. I con¬
sidered the country as my own from the first moment of my entry
into it. But, in the midst of this country’s great exaltation, I
collected my thoughts and prayed Our Lady to bless our new
foundation, promising if she did so and all went well, that I would
return to thank her before leaving Buenos Aires. Everything
succeeded beyond all expectation. So, a week before I left, I
returned with comfort and consolation to this Sanctuary, for
whilst I confided to the Holy Mother of God the care of the House,
I felt that this powerful and miraculous Mother had assured me
of her continual protection. Of her love and her protection I
had another proof, as did also the Sisters who accompanied
me to offer their vows and thanksgivings to this Mother of
Grace.

We had no sooner left Buenos Aires, than a shaft of most
luminous rays, the brightness of which outshone those of the
sun, shot forth from the heavens and descended and encompassed
us during the rest of the journey until we reached the Sanctuary,
where the wonderful Virgin of Lujan dispenses her ineffable
treasures of grace and blessings. This was a sign from Our Lady
to show us how visibly we enjoy Her special protection.

Oh, how good and amiable is Mary! She is a propitious Morning
Star; she is the inspiring guide of all our enterprises, and for
this reason the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart should fear
nothing. Our great Mother and Foundress is near God, even
united with God. Hence, she can do all, wish all, obtain all from
God. Oh, the greatness of Mary! She has been constituted the
fount of all graces, the sure channel of Divine mercy, the ladder
to Heaven, the gate of Paradise. Mary, O children, is that mystical

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holy mountain, that mountain adorned by the Holy Ghost, that
mountain from the summit of which springs the source of the
clearest water, dividing itself into infinite streams which water
the whole world. Therefore, our Houses, our works, are absolutely
secure in the hands of Mary, as long as we show her faith, invoke
her and imitate her virtues, as true Missionaries should do. If
you desire to convert the whole world, invoke Mary, for she is
that bright cloud, as seen by the prophet Elias, rising from the
sea, gradually spreading over the whole heavens, and then breaking
into rainfalls on every part of the earth, so that it covers even the
remotest inhabitants of the globe. Yes, you can do everything
with Mary. She extirpates heresy, eradicates schisms and destroys
idols. She causes our Holy Faith to triumph everywhere, and
increases and spreads the Fold of Christ which her mystic waters
irrigate and fructify. Confide everything to her, then; do every¬
thing under her auspices, and do not leave her for one moment.
Invoke her always, and she will cleanse your hearts and make
them worthy of your high vocation.

In the meantime our journey continues pleasant. It*s wonder¬
ful; we hardly notice the movement of the boat, the sea being
so placid and tranquil. I cannot write much, as the passengers
are so good and don't leave us for a moment. Sometimes,
with the little angel, the postulant who accorripanies me, I am able
to withdraw to some quiet corner to pray, but we never have time
to finish the Rosary before we have a crowd around us. We
cannot find a place in which to hide ourselves. You will have
patience with me, then, if you find this epistle is short. I have
become a Professor of Modern Languages, for I am giving a lesson
a day to the President's sister-in-law, Mrs. Tezanos Pinto de
Craseres, who is anxious to speak Italian well by the time she
reaches Italy, and especially Rome, where her husband is engaged
at the Peru Legation.

At table near the Captain sits a great literary man, a Neapolitan,
and the conversation naturally falls on History, Literature and
Science, etc. When the Neopolitan goes beyond the line, I keep
silent for a moment, and then, with kindness and firmness, I affirm
the truth. Slowly, without his noticing it, I induce him to approve
what is right according to the standard of truth, justice and the
Will of God, and to acknowledge that real happiness is to be found

Buenos Aires to Barcelona — August, 1896 155

in good alone, according to the dictates of our Holy Religion.
One day he asserted that, in order to become converted to better
things, he would have to suffocate and extinguish the whole
ardour of his soul and the vehemence of his human passions, and
so would have to reduce himself to the condition of a mountain of
ice, indifferent to all things, even the most beautiful and great. I
pointed out to him that the flames of human passions, which always
leave a void and a sense of dissolution, become changed into celes¬
tial flames through grace, and that the supernatural light of
Heaven, once let into the soul, grows so wonderfully that the
human passions become a volcano of Divine Love, a real fire that
nobody can extinguish as long as goodwill remains in the soul.

Have we not had the brightest examples in this direction? An
Augustine, a Magdalen. Did they become mountains of ice after
their conversion? Quite the contrary. We should never have
had these prodigies of conversion and marvellous holiness, if they
had not changed the flames of human passion into volcanoes of
immense love of God. But the present generation is too miserable
and unfortunate! It studies, studies everything but religion, and,
meanwhile, runs with the velocity of a train towards a ruinous
precipice. Oh, dear Jesus, what terrible ruin I But in Thy mercy
turn not Thy face away from us. Arise, great Giant of Love,
arise, O my Beloved 1 Come into the field of the Missions of Thy
beloved Spouses, who desire to bring into Thy Kingdom every
human soul. Come! We wait, desire and sigh for Thee. Come,
refulgent Sun, with Thy bright and vivid rays, that they may
brighten the earth enveloped in dense darkness! O Jesus, the
Desired of Ages, Love all on fire for Thy children, hasten and
give life to those who are sitting in the darkness of death!
Through Thy Most Holy Heart, heal the gaping, bleeding wounds
of sick humanity! We, Thy Missionaries, turn our eyes and
our hearts always towards Thy Divine Heart, and, if Thou
wiliest, all those confided to our care will be saved. Yes, if Thou
wish it, it can be done, for Thy very Name indicates salvation,
grace, unction and love. The more I invoke Thy sweet name,
the more I find it dear, sweet and amiable. Thou art my life,
my all, console then her who loves Thee, console Thy poor servant
and save, yes, save this sick generation, which you have trusted
to us. Look upon those souls whom Thou hast redeemed with

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Thy Precious Blood. Look upon them with love and mercy.
Wound them with the darts of Thy burning charity, warm and
transform all, in Thee.

Having passed the equatorial line, we reached Pinedo de San
Pedro, which is a rock of considerable size, after a four hour
journey. It presents a very pretty spectacle with its slender
points. Seen at sunset, it looks like a pretty sailing city, and my
companion asked me if there was any likelihood of our going there
some day to establish a Mission. I asked her if she wanted to
convert the birds, which are the only created things that find an
asylum there, but she thought that if ever we went there we should
find someone to convert. Well, of course, she wants to convert the
whole world, and, in the fervour of her desire, appears to have the
faith of Abraham, who merited to see his spiritual children multiply
like the sands of the sea.

Between one thing and another, we have reached the Canary
Islands, stopping at Las Palmas. There is a beautiful gulf, and
the city presents an enchanting sight. We arrived at six a.m. on
the 23rd, and, as it was Sunday, we arose at once so as to be able
to go ashore for Holy Mass and to have the happiness of receiving
Holy Communion. In fact, the medical inspection on this occasion
did not detain us long, and Captain Bocacelli, who does everything
he can for us, gave us sufficient time to satisfy our desires. At
six-thirty we were descending the gangway, and we took the first
boat that came. The four priests who were on board, seeing us
so early astir, took courage and came along in our boat. In about
ten minutes we reached the shore, and took one of the primitive
carriages with a small lean horse, so lean that my companion asked
if it was a donkey, and expressed the fear that it would not be
able to carry all six of us, especially as the weight of one of the
Franciscan Fathers was equal to that of three of us. But we
very soon found that the horse was strong and fast, for it galloped
off at great speed to the Church of Los Padrecitos, the Servants
of Mary, which is a very pretty church, where we heard Mass and
received Holy Communion. We then got into our carriage again,
and very rapidly completed the whole of the trip, passing en route
through the market, in order to show off, as it were, our new
carriage. We visited the Lazarist Fathers, who opened a House
here three years ago. One of the priests with us was a Lazarist.

Buenos Aires to Barcelona — August, 1896

157

They received us with great kindness, and at breal^fast gave us
the first grapes of this year, 1896. It was a pleasant surprise to
us, because when we left Buenos Aires it was quite winter. We
visited the Cathedral, the architecture of which we greatly admired
as well as its riches, for the country is comparatively poor. The
altar is noteworthy for its table of finest silver and lamp of great
value. These inhabitants are very fortunate, indeed, for in their
midst religion triumphs. Having paid all our visits, we returned
to the boat and were conveyed to the steamer. It had been
amusing to note the ingenuity of my companion. As soon as
she arose in the morning, she asked me what the mounds of
earth were, and wondered how they could remain straight without
falling down. She wanted to know the cause of the different
colours, why the houses were built on the tops of the mountains,
and averred she would never ascend to visit these houses. You
may imagine her bewilderment when the horse conveyed us to
one of these small houses situated at such a height. As we jour¬
neyed along a mountain near the port, she saw a stretch of yellow
sand very smooth and flat, like a piece of beautiful material, and
could not help wishing to carry some of it away with her as a re¬
membrance of the country.

Going ashore did not do us much good; rather it did harm to
everyone, because for a few days we felt as if we had just put out
to sea. We saluted Cape Moro and Morocco, and then turned
towards Gibraltar to admire that enchanting rock. This could
easily be done, as the Captain steered the ship as close as possible
in order to give us an opportunity of seeing everything and of
photographing the scene. Here the steamer did not stop, but
continued sailing quite near land, and we enjoyed for a whole day
the most beautiful and charming views. We could see all the
towns lying along the coast of Spain, with its gulfs, bays, mountains,
chains, etc., and as there were passengers on board who knew
Spain, they explained all that was of importance. They enjoyed
my being so interested in everything, little realizing, perhaps, that
for me everything was important, as my thoughts spread over all
Spain, for I desire to open a House in that country, not only to
do good, but to obtain religious vocations among the Spanish,
which would help the work in Spanish-America. Now and again
I turn my thoughts towards the West Coast of Africa and Morocco,

158

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

for I have aspirations to go there also. I should love to fly and
save the souls there, but this cannot be done during my lifetime, as
there is too much to be done in the Americas. May God bless us
and help us to spread our work, and thus save a great number of
these good peoples, our brethren. In the meantime, let us help with
our prayers. Prayer is the greatest relief at all times, especially
when an amount of work has to be undertaken and when I see
that things are impossible owing to our limited means.

Prayer is powerful! It fills the earth with mercy, it makes the
Divine clemency pass from generation to generation; right along
the course of the centuries wonderful works have been achieved
through prayer. We are the dust of the earth, and our days are
like the grass. Man is here on a pilgrimage, and shortly will be
no more, but the mercy and clemency obtained through the power
of prayer will always produce in people generous and salutary
effects.

Now we are at Barcelona, and again this time the Captain gave
us sufficient time to go ashore to receive Holy Communion. May
it please God to bless the piety of this rare and singular Captain!
I have been very fortunate in enjoying the kindest of attentions
in all my voyages, but the insight and tact of Captain Bocacelli,
who discovers in my aspirations that which acts as the hinge on
which all other inspirations turn and which gives value to the
others, is beyond expression. This time he sent us in his own
boat; by seven a.m. we had reached the Cathedral to go to
confession and Holy Communion, rendered more fervent by the
inspiring devotion of many ladies who were in the sacred edifice.
When our devotions had ended, an excellent Genoese gentle¬
man, Di Ovada, knowing how we desired to see Barcelona, asked
us if we would allow him to accompany us on a visit to the
town. Knowing his marked respectability, I accepted the invita¬
tion. He first took us to breakfast, and then conducted us in a
comfortable carriage to the public gardens and various churches.
The beauty of the principal places of this city does not yield one
jot to that of Paris. Barcelona is a trading city which in a few
years has grown twice its original size. It is more of a cosmopolitan
town than an ordinary Spanish city, for it includes in its population
representatives of almost every race on the globe. But the progress
achieved has brought one of the worst possible misfortunes on the

Buenos Aires to Barcelona — August, 1896

159

town, i.e., that of evil living and irreligion. Therefore, we must
open a House here in the course of time which will become a beau¬
tiful Mission and will do much good.

So, now, up and multiply your numbers and increase in virtue,
for the harvest is great and too much for your small number.
Make others follow your good example, so that I may be able
to summon up courage to do a great deal of good for these
souls, who will soon be lost if we do not hasten to their aid.

In the meantime, make use of prayer, work with prayer. Have
confidence in our Beloved Jesus, and always abandon yourselves
to His Adorable Sacred Heart, and have hope, ever mistrusting
yourselves and confiding in Him alone. For however weak and
insignificant you are, you can surely do great things. ''Omnia
possum in Eo qui me confortat.”

Now I must leave you, hoping to see you all ver>' soon and to
rejoice at your progress in virtue.

May Jesus bless you and enclose you in His Beautiful Heart,
wherein always I meet you.

Affectionately in Jesus Christ,

Mother Frances Saverio Cabrini.

August 27th, 1896.

CHAPTER IX

<=Iliuei'pooi to ^ew

Iflouemljer, 1898

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

Liverpool,

November Sth, 1898.

My dear Daughters,

May the beautiful Heart of Jesus, our Hope and only Love,
our Life and our All, shower upon us that light of truth, that fire
of love, that have come to inflame the hearts of men.

Love us, Jesus, with Your sweet chains.

Of that pure love we fain would claim;

Our wings to Heaven we open wide.

To leave low earth, and there abide.

This is the seventh time that I leave Europe to go to the Missions
of America. Yielding to a secret inspiration of the soul, I visited
this country—England—that was once the Isle of Saints, and
which, through the passions and pride of its king, lost the faith.

I was comforted by the blessing of the Holy Father, who at
the end of July gave me an audience and encouraged me, with
benignity, to go all over the world and carry the Most Holy Name
of Jesus everywhere, thus to draw souls into the bosom of the
Church, where alone there is salvation. With fatherly goodness
he inquired about my programme, and noticing my poor health,
he asked how I could undertake so much work. 'T, who am so
strong, could not do it,'' he said. ‘Tt is true I am old, but I am
much stronger than you." The affability with which he deigned
to speak to me, encouraged me to remark that, as I was his
spiritual daughter, I possessed his moral strength which enabled
me to go round the world, and I was sure I should not lose my

161

162

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

strength by serving that dear Jesus Who chose me to be a Mis¬
sionary of His Sacred Heart. Then, putting his two hands on
my head, he showered blessings upon me, telling me to pray, for
him, as his heart was overwhelmed with sorrow on account of the
revolutions prevalent in many countries.

Then the Supreme Pastor, that Father of souls, not wishing to
leave his little Missionary unconsoled, gave me a generous offering
for my voyage, together with presents for those who helped the
Missions most. He said many other nice things, but I must leave
these to the Mother Superior of the Plouse in Rome, who was
with me on the occasion of that memorable audience. All I can
say is, that with the blessing of the Holy Father I can go all over
the world and no fear shall overcome me, no matter how difficult
the way, and no matter how many the obstacles which may come
before me, whether from spiritual or temporal enemies. The Pope
has spoken, God has spoken through him. I shall go everywhere
without fear. Oh! how powerful is the blessing of the Pope!
He is the visible head of the Church on earth, he is God’s repre¬
sentative, the oracle of the Most Holy Trinity, the instrument of
the Holy Ghost, the trumpet of the Redeemer, the mouthpiece
and word of Our Lord Himself. The Pope is the shining light¬
house of Divine Wisdom, and so his words and his blessings are
that true column of fire that guides me in every danger and every
difficulty. Do pray, daughters, pray for the Holy Father, pray
for the Ruler of Church’s destiny, pray for him in these difficult
times. We must do so, as we are under obligations of filial
gratitude to Leo XIIL, who loves and favours our beloved
Institute as if it were his own beloved family. Speak, children,
to everybody concerning the Pope. Make them unite themselves
with him, for he who is united closely with the Pope, however
far he may have strayed from the right path, returns to God’s
ways in the end.

The Holy Father wishes our Institute to be prolific of Saints,
as he said to the Sisters whom I presented to him after my audience.
We are under an obligation to comply with the desires of this holy
old man. I imagine I hear, however, someone asking how they can
become Saints? Oh, daughters, do not fear difficulties; it will
suffice if we follow our holy vocation faithfully. That sweet and
most loving Jesus, Who has called us to follow Plim, gathering us

Liverpool to New York — November^ 1898 163

to His Divine Heart, helps us every day on our journey. It is He
Himself, the good Jesus, Who has called us to follow closely in
His footsteps, through the observance of the Evangelical Counsels,
so that we may be holy and perfect, like unto Him. That dear
Redeemer has marked us with the sign of predilection, taking us
from the darkness of the world. He has introduced us into the
House of His Divine Heart and surrounded us with His admirable
light. As long as we remain faithful to our vocation, Jesus will
always be in the midst of us, inflaming our hearts with Divine
Love. He will try our faith and our love sometimes, by allowing
us to be tempted and tried, but, if we are faithful to our vows,
and if, trustingly, we invoke Him, not forgetting that the Fount
of every good is in our midst. He will soon console us and leave
us flooded with His light and celestial joy. He will always be
with us in the time of our trials. He will walk by our side and help
us out of all difficulties. He Himself has called us to follow Him
closely, and has promised to help us; surely. He will keep His
word. We may have to suffer a long time on the road to the
Mount of Perfection, but we should not be frightened, for, what
does she, who ignores Christian suffering, know of what is grand
and wonderful? The science of suffering is the science of the
Saints. Let us rejoice when an unexpected cross visits us, when a
sorrow afflicts us, because these are the precious fruits of the
mystical vine, destined to produce inestimable merits unto Eternity.
Then, when you have suffered, dear daughters, do not go round
sighing, as one who knows not the privilege of the Cross, but
raise your eyes and smile sweetly at suffering, which is like a
beautiful country white for the harvest. She who knows how to
gather copious sheaves will receive a large reward. Learn how
to unite your sufferings sweetly with those of Jesus Christ, and,
then, your sufferings endured for Jesus and for His Adorable
Heart, will be as so many drops immersed in the immense ocean
of the Most Holy Passion of Jesus Christ. In like manner, our
trials and our sorrows offered up with those of our most loving
Jesus, will be not only sanctified but made Divine and worthy of
Eternal glory. In suffering for Jesus we partake of His sufferings
and riches, so that, during our earthly pilgrimage, grace will never
be wanting, either to ourselves particularly or to the works of our
mission—the salvation of souls. Be wise, then, dear daughters,

164 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

and do not squander your sufferings, but submit to them without
murmuring and with supernatural motives, remembering that in
every sorrow a wonderfully secret work of grace is revolving
within the wheels of our predestination.

November 6th. I begin again to-day my correspondence with
you, after having passed a quiet night, so quiet, indeed, that one
hardly realized one was at sea. So much was this the case, that
dear Sister Frances, who is with me, was astonished, seeing that
she was prepared to suffer any amount of sea-sickness and all
the other inconveniences which occur during this season of the
year. We have reached Queenstown after sixteen hours naviga¬
tion. It is Sunday, and we should like to go ashore and hear
Mass and receive Holy Communion, but the steamer only makes
a stay of half-an-hour to collect the mails. So we have to resign
ourselves and send our aspirations to the Solitary of Love, Who
is in the Blessed Sacrament, in the devotional churches of this
beautiful Irish city, where He receives the homage and reverence
and the warm love of the Irish people, still animated with that
lively faith which was implanted in them by that great Missionary,
the fervent Apostle of Ireland, Saint Patrick.

But it is necessary to return to the account of my voyage,
because you wish to know all that takes place en route. I left
Rome after having finished some very grave business relating to
the affairs of the Institute which gave me great trouble, and
which tired me to such an extent that, if the question only affected
me personally, I should certainly have yielded to the unjust
demands made upon us. But it was a question of the rights of
the Institute, and I should have erred greatly had I given way
owing to my own physical fatigue. However, with the help of
Jesus, and through the goodness of His most loving Heart, which
does everything for me, I obtained the victory necessary for the
Institute, after all the troubles which have already affected it.
All that happened, however, was with the consent of the Divine
Goodness, which allows us to be afflicted in order to make us more
worthy of the singular graces with which He deigns to favour our
small and beloved Institute, which is not worthy, certainly, of so
many signal favours. After thanking God, we should also be
grateful to those persons whom Our Lord thus allowed to trouble

165

Liverpool to Nezv York — November, 1898

us, and to pray from our hearts for them. And since true friends
are realised in the time of need, I was able to count as such many
eminent Cardinals, who love with a paternal heart our beloved
Institute. This was proved by the sacrifices and trouble they
undertook to defend truth and uphold justice. How they are
enlightened by the Holy Ghost! Amongst these were the Most
Eminent Cardinals Parrocchi, Vannutelli, Rampolla, Agliardi,
Steinhuber, Cretoni, and other Cardinals and Prelates whose
names would take too long to write.

The audience of which I have already spoken closed the whole
affair with great success, and then I went to the Noviciate of
Codogno, where with one hundred and fifty Sisters I made my
Annual Retreat lasting ten days. During that time I was able
to take that spiritual rest which I had been waiting for so long,
and which was also necessary to recruit my bodily health, which
had suffered greatly. It might have been said that I should not
be able to undertake another long journey, which, before its com¬
pletion, will have taken me a distance of about sixteen thousand
miles, not to speak of other obstacles which frequently occur and
are not always pleasant, though, of course, always acceptable as
coming from Him Who gives wool in measure as required by the
cold, and Who even with the ice and the snow conserves the heat
of the earth, ''Qui dat nivem sicut lanam.’* Though the spirit
of the Institute and the works of piety it inculcates are sufficient
to keep us united to God, nevertheless, a spiritual retreat now
and again is a necessity for our souls which are destined to climb
the mountain of perfection, as true Spouses of Jesus Christ and
as Missionaries of His Divine Heart. ^T will lead my beloved into
the solitude, and there I will speak to her, heart to heart.'*
Jesus Christ Himself frequently retired alone into the mountains
and into the quiet Garden of Olives to converse with His Eternal
Father in the silence of the night. In retirement and solitude we
are disposed to speak with God confidentially and to beg Him to
fill us with His grace. It is in Retreat that we learn the multiform
and precious ways of prayer. It is there we learn to pray,
whether it be by means of the tongue, good works, or sufferings.
It is there one acquires the spirit of interior prayer so sublime
and rich with merits, for it is the interior spirit that raises us up
at every moment and in every work to God. It is in Retreat that

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the soul learns to give internal glances at the beauty and goodness
of God. These glances are like a melodious prayer, pleasing to the
Divine Heart of the loving Jesus.

God is a most pure Spirit, and He loves, with a special love and
very dearly, pure and immaculate hearts, and their loving, simple
looks please Him. When can we better simplify and purify our
spirit than during Retreat? The soul learns to love God as He
should be loved, so worthy of all our love. Then, also, these internal
aspirations, however short, leave incredible power within, and are
very profitable to us and give great glory to God. The soul learns
that there is no necessity to look for her beloved outside her own
being, and that she can find Him within herself, as on His own
throne and in His tabernacle. The soul drinks in large draughts
from that wonderful spring, the Wound of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus. It is in Retreat that the Missionary learn what is required
in order to become rich for eternity, and acquires at the same
time a loving and continual purity of intention. Oh, how precious
it is! The most vigilant in this exercise of the inner life have
the richest graces in this life and the greatest glory in the next.
Yes, my children, God is the beginning, the centre and the end
of all our daily actions, and whilst as Missionaries of His Divine
Heart we give great and continual glory to God, we also acquire
for ourselves at every moment immense treasures of grace.
Whether we work, eat, teach or sleep, or voyage, let us do all in
the name of Jesus and in that of His Divine Heart.

Remember always, and impress it also on all you have to
instruct, that purity of intention in our actions is the life and
the value of the same, and is the way to open up the inexhaustible
mine of the incalculable good which we shall find written in the
Book of Life.

It is in Retreat that we learn to humble ourselves and to earn
the precious gem of humility. If we become careless and ignorant
in our spiritual life, we think ourselves better than we are. But,
in solitude we are enabled to understand well what the Beloved
Disciple meant when he admonishes us and says, “If*we say we
have no faults, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Our misery is indeed great. Ignorance, blindness of intellect,
pride of mind and heart, inclination to vice, repugnance to virtue,
readiness for evil, and sloth in doing good—all of these are a

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167

sufficient motive for humbling ourselves in the most pure presence
of God, and confessing that we are truly dust and ashes: nothing
in fine. Let us weigh carefully, dear children, what a great mis¬
fortune it is not to have humility, for the lack of this precious
pearl places a wall of bronze between us and God. If we are not
humble, we shall derive no advantage from the ways that lead to
humility, for whatever may be our fault against humility, though
it appears small, it does us a great injury, for faults against
humility are severely punished by God. Be, therefore, watchful,
children, and guard that precious and holy humility, for none of
the lovely works of piety prescribed by the Holy Institute can be
carried out without humility, and your many and good prayers
will not be helpful to you without a humble heart. We must
pray much to obtain this great and precious gift of humility, for
we must be humble if we want to be heard. Mary, our tender
Mother, teaches us this by her example, because if God loved her
for her virginity, He loved her more on account of her humility,
as Saint Bernard affirms. Many often complain of not being
heard, though they pray much, but, if they become humble, as
Jesus desires, and practise humility, then they will be heard
quickly, for the key which opens the celestial treasures is humility.
Let us please God, children, and give glory to Him. Let us
console the Adorable Heart of Jesus by becoming truly humble.
Let us practise always and in every event great simplicity and
humility, which is the glorious chain which unites us with God.
No, you cannot stand without Jesus; He is for you a blessed
necessity. The soul yearns for its Creator, its Centre, its Beginning,
its Beloved. Remove, then, any impediment produced by the
want of humility, and then nothing will hinder you. Your wings
will be free, and you will fly with all the vehemence and ardour
of which the soul is capable unto your Treasure, Who will allow
you to taste an anticipated Heaven which is the sure noviciate of
eternal life. The peace and joy which God infuses into the
humble soul exceed all understanding. Therefore, how much you
should treasure the holy Annual Retreat, the Monthly and even
the very short Weekly Retreat, when you retire to read over again
the lights and resolutions which bring great advantages to you.
But I must tell you that besides coming out of the Retreat feeling
very well as to personal advancement, I had also the pleasure of

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seeing the Sisters also much better and much more enriched with
precious gifts from their loving Spouse, Who, pleased with the
fragrant odour of their holy resolutions, seemed to surround them
with a beautiful white cloud, with a shadow of His Holy Humanity,
so much so, that I thought I was with heavenly creatures instead
of with poor earthly pilgrims. Being assured, therefore, that the
Divine Blessing would always accompany them to whatever House
they were destined, I left Italy without anxiety and very tran¬
quilly.

On the 25th August I left Codogno, and on the 26th August I
left Milan for Turin. There I thought I should be able to get the
tickets cheaper from the Mediterranean Line Company through
the recommendation of His Eminence, Cardinal Ferrata, who was
anxious to help us in our Mission work, but the excellent Rector,
Monsignor Vigo, of the Church of St. Julia, met us with a rather
jubilant air, saying the tickets could not be had and that I should
have to stop at his house. We had the great pleasure of meeting
Monsignor Radini Tedeschi, who was engaged in the final stages
of his work of organizing the celebrated pilgrimage to Our Lady
of Lourdes, and so we were able to take some part in the homage
and devotion to Our Lady by preparing the books with the names
of those who were to act as leaders of the pilgrimage, and who so
energetically co-operated with that great client of Mary Immaculate,
Monsignor Radini Tedeschi, who is well known for his great
faith, irreproachable life and singular attachment to the Holy
Father and to the Holy See. Our tickets arrived the same day
that the pilgrimage set forth, and so we took train to Paris,
accompanied by the blessing of the Archbishop of Turin, who
gave us and our voyage his blessing, after he had already
blessed the pilgrimage. Monsignor Vigo, not satisfied with lodging
us for three days, continued his kindness by giving us a hamper
of good things and by accompanying us to the station. La
Signorina Jaggi, sister of our dear Sister Maurizia, remained in
our company these few days, and then accompanied us to the
frontier, in company with Sister Maurizia and the Reverend Mother
of the House of Codogno, in order to help us to get through the
Customs. Signorina Carolina Jaggi is a beautiful soul, and would
do anything in her power to relieve us of any trouble, and, more
so, because she is soon to become a member of the Institute.

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169

On the 20th August we arrived in Paris, where a very generous
and great personage awaited us. It was Monsignor Chapelle, Arch¬
bishop of New Orleans, who, forgetting his own dignity and merits,
deigned to come to meet us at the station, and then conducted us
to the house in which he was staying, and thence to the Sisters of
Sion, whose hospitality he had procured for us during the time we
were to remain in Paris. At the same time we visited Madame de
Mier, who offered us her house, as she thought it would please
her younger sister, who is finishing her studies with us. We could
not refuse such an offer, especially as, this lady being very ill, our
refusal might have given her pain. So we accepted it, and for a
month her house was like a Convent. Everything was at our dis¬
posal, parlour, dining-room, servants. Great silence was observed,
for the lady was very ill, and only left her room to come to
table, not to eat, but to keep us company and to see that we had
everything necessary. She, in fact, studied how to make each day
more pleasant for us.

But whilst I am writing to you of Paris, The Umbria, the
Cunard vessel on which we are travelling, is making great head¬
way, and seems to be almost flying. The weather is beautiful,
the sea very calm, and the wind favourable. We might expect
such lovely weather in the months of August and September, but
not at this time of the year. So everybody is naturally surprised
at seeing what a favourable crossing we are having. Occasionally
the waves swell up. Then suddenly, as if by magic, clouds of
mist are formed that obscure for the moment the rays of the sun,
which dissolve at one time into very fine rain, and at another into
enormous drops. Thus the salt water, coming into contact with
the fresh rain water, becomes calm and composed, so much so
that we do not seem to move. I sometimes shut myself up in
my cabin and sometimes remain on deck, and so am able to write
with little trouble the sort of diary you asked for. Sister Frances
is well and accompanies me everywhere. At the table she orders
what I can take, which I myself certainly could not do, as I do not
know the names of English foods, just as I also do not know those
of our own country, accustomed as I am to take what is placed
before me. Sister Frances is a very good travelling companion.
She is always in good humour, and though simple as a dove, is
not by any means ignorant, but, withal, prudent and cautious.

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She is very quick in managing things, and studies in every way
to spare me trouble, performing everything openly and with great
charity. She has many good qualities and that spirit which at
all times ought to distinguish a true Missionary. She is kind to
everyone, affable but not affected, and so leaves everyone edified.
The world has no place in her heart, nor does it leave on her any
impression that might damp that fervent love which draws her
near to her dear Jesus. As you know, she does not speak Italian
well, but she does her best to make me understand what she
wants to say by turning the words this way and that. The other
day, for instance, she wanted to say '‘cauliflower’' in Italian,
which is "cavol-fiore,” but her rendering made it “fiore-cavalli,”
"horses’ flowers.” By expressing herself in this roundabout way
she was doubly charitable, for she gave me the opportunity of a
good hearty laugh.

How admirable is God in His works! He finds followers every¬
where, and in the midst of a country where Protestantism reigns.
He, through the goodness of His Heart, forms beautiful and gen¬
erous souls who serve Him with great fidelity. There was a time
when Our Lord went through the streets of Jerusalem drawing
souls to Himself by His Divine looks; but, to-day, it is by His
spirit and His loving Heart that He draws souls to His following
and inflames them. My Jesus, how good Thou art! I shall never
cease to speak of Thee and Thy Divine Heart! I shall never tire of
proclaiming Thy praises, so that Thou risest every day like a bright
and ardent lamp and run as a Giant in every country, enlightening
souls, warming up hearts, drawing them into the fold of Thy
Church and helping them to follow Thee more closely. Pray,
dear daughters, pray much for the conversion of England. It
breaks one’s heart that this country does not possess the true
Faith. England has all the qualities that make it worthy to be
a portion of Christ’s fold. Her only fault is that of having but
half of the Faith, and no longer being allied with the only Head
which forms the perfect union of the Church with Christ. Our
Lord Himself said so: "He who does not enter by the door of
the fold shall not have salvation.” The door of the fold is the
Catholic Church and union with the Head who represents Jesus
Christ. It is faith in Christ, a pure, simple faith, not half a faith,
but entire faith, that faith which embraces in its universality the

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171

revealed Word of God, which is necessary to enter the true Church.
Such a faith makes us living members of the mystic Body of the
Redeemer. In fact, of what avail is it, children, if Protestants
lead naturally pure, honest lives, yet possess virtues which lack
the interior impulse of the Holy Ghost? They may well say
‘'We do no harm, we lead good lives’"; but, if they do not enter
the true fold of Christ, all their protestations are in vain, because
a really good life is that which is so formed and ordered as to lead
to the Way that is Blessed and Eternal. Without this admirable
order and relationship a good life is of no value. These poor people
do not enter the door of the true fold of Christ, because they do
not know Christ perfectly, or, at least, do not accept in their
entirety His Sacred Commands.

Sth November, To-day the weather is more gorgeous than that
of yesterday. The sun shines, the air is warm, the sea tranquil
and smooth, and of a beautiful blue hue, whilst the vessel sails
swiftly and quietly. My companion arose this morning as bright
as a bird. Having said our prayers, we went on deck, where we
spent our time, praying, reading or writing letters, just when we
felt like it, and speaking to those who approached us, amongst
whom were some Protestants, to whom we quietly suggested
some religious ideas which we hoped might serve as the seed of
a knowledge of the Truth. I must not, however, forget to turn
back to Paris, with the thought of what the good Jesus inspired
me to do whilst passing through that city. For seven years I
had nourished a secret desire to open a House in Paris, but the
strenuous life of our American Missions always prevented me.
Now, however, on passing through Paris again, an irresistible
force held me back in the capital. I first visited Montmartre, as
this seemed to me quite a natural thing to do, and I felt driven
onwards. There I received Holy Communion, made an hour’s
adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, Which is always exposed
in that temple for the salvation of France, and, as I looked at
the beautiful statue of the Sacred Heart which stands over the
altar with its arms extended. It seemed to say to me in mute but
eloquent language, “Here I want you, here I will protect you,
here, though you will have some difficulty, you will succeed.”
Plaving finished my visit to this great Sanctuary, built by the

172

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offerings of the whole of the French people, I felt a still greater
impulse. So I went to the Cardinal Archbishop, but was unable
to see him at home, as he had just left for the country. I was told
to talk to one of the Vicars General. The only one I found was
Monsignor Thomas, an excellent and exemplary Prelate, who,
however, certainly inspired by God, thought it well to make
certain objections, and represented to me how difficult that was
which seemed so easy to me. However, instead of losing courage
I felt more determined than ever. I seemed to realise the interior
awakening of a great feeling of gratitude towards this excellent
Vicar, who, by thus making the way somewhat difficult for me,
gave me the opportunity of beginning, with the cross, a founda¬
tion which I had so much at heart. And it was really a cross
for me, because, while the difficulties thus presented did not
deprive me of the hope of opening this House, so long-desired,
nevertheless they meant the delay of the realisation of my long-
cherished hopes. Moreover, I desired to arrange everything in
fifteen days, so as to have time to go to England before leaving
for America. The delay was certainly a great obstacle to my
plans, for I had business in England which required my presence
there not later than the middle of November. I thought I heard
the words of the eminent Cardinal Vicar ringing in my ears;
‘‘Disembark in England and found a House of the Institute
there, and you will do great good.'’ For me these words were
like a precept, but the delay in France was an obstacle to my
going to England, and caused me such great sorrow as to prove
a real cross to me. I seemed to feel that I could embrace any
other cross rather than this, but everything was arranged by God
to render me more worthy of this blessing, without which there
could be no success. In the meantime, the most Eminent Cardinal
Richard, to whom Monsignor Montagnini had spoken on behalf
of the Apostolic Legate, gave me instructions to open the House,
about which he himself was quite satisfied. About the same time
a letter arrived from Cardinal Rampolla, Secretary of State,
Rome, who, in the name of the Holy Father, asked His Eminence
to render what effective help he could in favour of the projected
foundation. The matter would have been settled at once, but
for the absence of the approval of the Vicar General, Monsignor
Thomas, but even for this I hadn't to wait long, as an unexpected

173

Liverpool to Nezv York — November, 1898

and gracious letter, full of those sentiments of piety which dis¬
tinguished him, came from the Monsignor, in which he gave me
as much satisfaction as he had previously given me trouble.
Shortly after, when visiting our Houses in Milan and Rome, he
told the Sisters that even whilst he was putting difficulties in my
way, he felt interiorly as if he ought to say, “Go, found a House,
and it will be blessed by the Sacred Heart.'’ The last difficulty
was the choice of the place, for, not knowing the city, I might
easily have made a mistake. Instead of the modest position I
was about to choose. His Eminence the Cardinal, through the
Vicar General, advised me to go to the Parish of Saint Pierre du
Chaillot, between the Squares of Etoile and II Trocadero, the most
aristocratic locality of Paris, which I should not have chosen
myself. We found a house in Via Dumont d’Urville, No. 20,
and though it was one of the most modest houses in this distin¬
guished quarter, it was very costly, and I should not have taken
it, except under obedience to the wish of the Eminent Cardinal
Archbishop, who encouraged me. “Obedience,” I said within
myself, “carries victory and works wonderful prodigies. When
the House has been opened, the means to sustain it will follow.”
We did not, however, know where the means were going to come
from, but the Sacred Heart, who always provides and cares for
us, knew where they would come from. The house itself being
too rich in its appointments, we chose the servants’ apartments
for the Community as dormitories, the porter’s room for the
Community Room, the kitchen for the Refectory, leaving the
best rooms for such lady boarders as might come. And, seeing
what I had done was God’s Will, and in obedience to the Pope,
whose blessing is always fruitful, we had one boarder very soon.
On the day of the great Saint Michael the Archangel, the special
Angel of our Institute, which he guards with a body of Angels
and Saints, and called by me our great Crusade, the House was
opened, and about the 1st of October the Countess Spottiswood
Mackin, an American lady of excellent dispositions and with a
big heart, came to us. No sooner was she with us than she felt
strongly inclined to help in a special manner the Missionary Sisters
of the Sacred Heart, and used all her efforts to bring us into contact
with persons who could help us. She herself helped us, and, not
satisfied with that, she organized a concert under the patronage

174

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

of the Princess Eulalia of Spain, who accepted the honor very
willingly, being only too happy to help the Missionary Sisters of
the Sacred Heart in their new foundation. She, the Countess
Spottiswood, arranged the affair so well by reason of her excellent
and energetic personality and her beautiful disposition, that one
would imagine she is capable of putting a whole country into
movement when it is a question of assisting those whom the
Holy Father favours. With all her energy, she maintains a great
simplicity which enhances all her other good qualities, and as
simplicity is the sister of humility, so she listens to every word
I say and obeys me like a child, being willing to make any
sacrifice in order to conform with the requirements of a Religious
House, and in order to make herself worthy, as she says, of doing
us a little good. See, my dear daughters, how admirable is the
Providence of that Most Adorable Heart, Who knows how to help
His little Missionaries when they know how to abandon themselves
to Him! But this is not all. On the 1st of October, His Eminence
Cardinal Richard returned to Paris, and, through his Vicar Gener¬
al, made known his desire to see me. On the 4th October I went to
His Eminence, and his kind reception left a lasting impression
upon me—the impression of a most holy soul inspiring me with a
great veneration for him. He treated me as a real father would,
and gave me a letter not only formally approving the foundation,
but making it very conspicuous in the letter that I had been
recommended to him by the Holy Father, Leo XHI. He not only
helped me in his capacity as Archbishop, but gave me a large
offering which was recorded in a book, which moved others to
follow his example, for the recommendation of the Venerable
Archbishop had the efficacy of a command in respect to many
other generous persons. What do you say now, my dear daugh¬
ters? Are you not astonished at the goodness of the Most Adorable
Heart of the most loving Jesus? Let us acknowledge Him as
our most powerful Advocate and Ruler. He is always in the
presence of His Father, pleading our cause. Our cause is in His
hands; in the Wound of the Side of the most clement Jesus.
He never abandons those who have an upright heart, who trust
in Him and hope in His Divine Heart. He is our sure Refuge in
trials, and at the opportune moment He gives us His powerful
and loving help. He scatters with His breath the designs of our

Liverpool to New York — November, 1898

175

adversaries. Remember, daughters, that our trust in Jesus is our
very life, and we must always hope in Him and in the goodness
of His Most Adorable Heart against every hope. It may at times
appear that He overlooks the evil that we suffer; but, no. He is
awake. He watches over us and all our interests. It is He who
brings forth the lilies of the valley and the flowers of the fields,
but He thinks more of us, as we are the elect portion of His Divine
Heart. Why? Because we are consecrated to Him as His Spouses,
desirous to please Him always, and because in a special manner we
are dedicated to Him as Missionaries of His Divine Heart. Yes,
my daughters, as long as you have the grace to combat faithfully
under the standard of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, you
will always walk under the protection of a special Providence.
But an exact fidelity is necessary to merit such a protection. You
are certainly resolved to be thus faithful, but you must also
supplicate the good Jesus to place His seal upon your arm so that
you may never need to lean on human creatures and to put a
seal on your heart, so that you will love Him only and will work
for Him alone. Ask Him to seal with His Holy Name all your
thoughts, words and actions, all your sufferings, your joys and
aspirations. Beg Him to live always in you and you in Him, so
that you may always be one with Him, that you may always
glorify Him, and not bear in vain the noble and enviable title of
Missionaries of His Divine Heart.

November 9th. Our voyage continues, as it began, just as quiet
and calm as if we were on a calm lake. Last evening, in the
company of my dear travelling companion, I remained on deck
near the stern contemplating the beautiful spectacle formed by
the phosphorescence. The steamer w^as one bright light all round,
and the waves seemed to reflect the moon. My companion looked
round, but the moon could not itself be seen at this moment. It
was as yet invisible. Her surprise increased, as she could not
account for the bright light coming from a sea so dark in colour.
The atmosphere was moist but loaded with health-giving qualities,
and so we remained as though with our mouths wide open to
inhale w’hat the good Providence of God sent us. It strengthened
our lungs, and I was happy, as I wanted my companion to get
still stronger. We sang the Ave Maris Stella, and the quiet waves

176

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

seemed to re-echo our voices and to modulate them in a curious
way. It seemed that the heavens opened for the Angels to join
us, and that Mary, Queen of all Saints, spread her mantle over
us to give us ample protection. I, however, feel urged by
sentiments of sincere gratitude, to again return in thought to
Paris to tell you more about the people there who were so good
to us. It happened that His Grace the Archbishop Chapelle,
had been to Lourdes to compose a pastoral for his diocese at the
feet of Mary Immaculate, in whom, full of great faith, he places
all his trust; but, though he had left for the wonder-working
Sanctuary of the Pyrenees, he gave me, as before, all the help he
could for the new foundation, and on his return came to con¬
gratulate me on my success and to give solemn Benediction in
thanksgiving. Having seen the book in which His Eminence
Cardinal Richard had written, he also added his own recommenda¬
tion. This is a real adornment of the book, because it came from
a heart so full of zeal, a zeal that renders him worthy of the
Episcopate. Amongst other things, he said it was a matter of
great satisfaction for him to be able to help our Institute, that
it was very dear to his heart, and that it was his duty to help me
as much as he could, the Holy Father having made a special
recommendation of the Institute in the last audience he had with
His Holiness in the month of August. His Holiness, Pope Leo
XIIL, possessing great insight of character, recognized the merit
and value of His Grace, Archbishop Chapelle, and created him
Apostolic Legate at Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines. This
clear-minded Prelate is already working day and night in Paris
so as to make the treaty of peace fruitful and to preserve entire to
the Catholic Church the populations of these territories. Mon¬
signor Chapelle is now at an advanced age, but he works like a
young man, and could take wings when it is a question of consoling
the august and venerable Pontiff, so great is his joy. The Holy
Father made no mistake in the choice, because the good Prelate
has done great things in these few days, and it is not surprising
that things go well with him, because he is a beautiful soul, all
of God, working in His Holy Name; certainly, God supports him
by His graces. If we feel our hearts, sometime, pierced with
thorns at the sight of these terrible times, for it seems as if hell
itself has been let loose with all its fury, we may be consoled when

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177

we see such men as Archbishop Chapelle working with so much
energy to repair the injury done to the Church and to her beloved
children. The wise Leo has said, '‘Defende nos in proelio contra
nequitiam et insidias diaboli.” It was for good reasons, also,
that he wanted the whole world to repeat it. Yes! The furious
enemy of those redeemed by Christ, Satan, who, with pride, insults
the noble people of Israel, will be conquered. He, the cruel enemy,
advances with rage against us in every direction, but we'll conquer
him, if we trustfully repeat, '‘Defende nos in proelio." The enemy
comes to us with the sword and spear and the shield, but we, like
the shepherd David, made according to God's Own Heart, go to
meet him without fear, in the name of the Lord, with peace and
confidence, and enclosed within the Heart of God. Let us have
confidence, dear daughters, unlimited confidence, and, like brave
champions, we shall weaken the strength of the enemy and conquer
him, and make everything redound to the glory of God and the
consolation of His Divine Heart.

In Paris the time seemed to fly. On the eve of Saint Teresa,
after having finished the preparation of our little chapel, the
Rector of St. Pierre de Chaillot came to celebrate Holy Mass and
to reserve the Blessed Sacrament. It was a great feast day for us,
and we thought everything had become more beautiful and grander
with the coming of our Beloved into our home. As Jesus had
deigned to come, so with Him all other good things would come.
Nothing else remained for me to do but to leave Paris, feeling
sure that everything would follow all right. But, as the days flew
by and between one thing and another, wishing to have every¬
thing in perfect order, the end of the month arrived before I had
noticed it. During these latter days the second curate of the
parish came to say Mass. The first curate. Father Chesnelong,
having returned from the country, also came to visit us and after¬
wards said Mass. He congratulated us on having opened a House
in the parish, and encouraged us greatly, offering us his best wishes
and help. Monsignor Granito di Belmonte, the Legate's Secretary,
who did so much for us, came also to say Mass.

With the blessing of everyone, I left Paris on the 27th of
October, nine p.m. for America via England, for, although there
was no time for me to work in England, I felt I wanted at least
to visit this country, where I longed so much to do some good.

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The evening before, Monsignor Bishop Patron, Superior of the
Franciscans of the Holy Land in Paris, a man of patriarchal good¬
ness, obtained for us a reduction in the cost of our tickets. Three
Sisters went in advance to the station to arrange everything.
When I got there the Sisters came into the carriage with me, and
as no signal was given that the train was about to start, the lattei
moved out of the station without our noticing it. The doors were
closed hurriedly, and the train moved on for another hour. It
was impossible for the Sisters to leave the train. At first I felt
upset owing to the late hour, but soon we were quite happy at
the thought of being together for a few minutes more. The dis¬
tance was going to be great and the separation still longer. At
the first stop the station-master came to tell us we must not
worry, and that in a few minutes another express train would
come along and convey the Sisters back to Paris. In fact, at
midnight they were already at home, as told me in their letters
which reached me in England. At one o'clock I had fallen asleep,
tired out with the work of preparing the luggage for the Missions,
when I was suddenly awakened by being told that we were at
Calais. We got out of the train in haste to get on board the steamer.
The place was as bright as day with the light of the lighthouse,
the brilliancy of which was as bright as if emanating from the
sun. The sea was very smooth, and with the swiftness of
lightning the boat conveyed us in an hour's time to Dover, where
the train awaited us to take us to London with an equal swiftness.
I wanted to admire England, which I had longed to visit, but I
was absolutely fatigued, and, being alone with Sister, I took up
a comfortable position in order to sleep or rest. I was told in
Paris I should not reach London until nine a.m., but about five-
thirty I was awakened by being asked for our tickets, and was
told I was in London and that within ten minutes we should
arrive at Victoria Station, our destination. I felt so worn out
that I would have given anything to be able to rest longer. My
limbs were aching a great deal, but it was no use, as I had to
leave the train presently.

Having left our luggage at Victoria Station, we went to the
Jesuit Church, Farm Street. We received Holy Communion, and
on leaving the church went to see the venerable Superior, for whom
Father Frigeri had given us a letter. He received us with that

Liverpool to New York — November, 1898

179

paternal goodness which is traditional with the Jesuits. He was
interested in our work, and gave us a letter of recommendation
to the Sisters of Mary Reparatrice, who were to lodge us for
three days while we remained in London. They did not live
far off, and I thanked God, for I felt I could not have taken
another step. We saw the Superior, who received us with great
kindness and gave us a very good breakfast, which Sister Frances
ate with a sharpened appetite. As far as I was concerned, I
needed rest rather than food, but I dissimulated and tried to
keep going. As things turned out, in fact, rest was out of the
question, for the Superior told us that the rooms were full and
she could not accommodate us. The good Reverend Mother,
however, gave us the addresses of two other Convents and sent
a young lady to take us by the shortest and surest way. I
thought of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, as I undertook
the journey, but my legs would not move, so much so that I
thought I had lost all power of motion. I decided to take a cab
and visit the Bishop of Southwark, from whom I felt sure of
receiving the help I needed, as he had been a friend of our Institute
for two years. The journey was long owing to the cabman not
knowing the residence of the Catholic Bishop, and so we arrived
at the episcopal residence of Monsignor Bourne at one p.m. He
was not at home, having left for the Seminary thirty miles distant
to prepare the students for their ordination, which was to take
place the following day. Zealous as he is, he himself wanted to
prepare these new Levites for the great mission which awaited
them. We met his worthy Secretary, however, who received us
with great cordiality, as if we belonged to the same household.
He ordered our dinner, and in the meantime sent word to the
Sisters of Retreat asking them kindly to prepare a lodging for us.
At four p.m. the good Father accompanied us in a cab to the
Convent where we were about to stay.

I had hoped to go to bed as soon as I arrived, owing to my
immense fatigue, but these good Religious, who for the first time
were entertaining strange Sisters, especially Italians, surrounded
me. They wanted me to talk about Rome and the Pope, so that be¬
fore I could realise it, the clock struck seven p.m., and then we had
to go to supper. At last they took me to my room. It was now
eight-thirty p.m. I did not go to bed, but fell upon it, more dead

180

Travels of Mother Fy^ances Xavier Cabrini

than alive on account of the soreness of my limbs, which seemed
dislocated. I was so exhausted that I could not sleep. The next
day was Sunday, and I was anxious to go to the Community Mass
at seven a.m., but I could not move. Sister Frances went to the
chapel. The Sisters, seeing that I was not present, became alarmed.
They came to my room to see if I was seriously ill, and appeared
somewhat frightened, not being accustomed to receive Sisters of
other Congregations. One of the Sisters, entering the room,
threw the windows wide open and came to examine me. ‘‘Oh,’*
she exclaimed, “she is like a baby asleep!” I accepted this
pretty compliment. “Sisters,” I said, “be patient, I want to
rest a little longer, then I should like to receive Holy Communion,
and afterwards shall go to hear Mass at some chapel near at
hand.” At ten-thirty I went to the chapel, where the good
Chaplain, who also was a Religious of the Holy Retreat, gave
me Holy Communion. Then I partook of a little coffee, and the
Sisters accompanied me to Mass in a chapel near at hand, which
serves as a school during the week and a chapel on Sundays, as
in Brooklyn, where we have more than six hundred children.
I went to Mass, but could hardly move my legs, and had to ask
my companions to walk more slowly. In the meantime, I began
to feel better and to walk better. I was glad, as this was not an
opportune moment to get ill. After dinner I rested till Vespers. The
following night I slept peacefully, and the next day I felt quite
bright. So, after breakfast, I went out with my companion to
see London. The first thing I wanted to do was to buy a trunk
in place of the one I had left at Victoria Station. It had been
given us in Paris, and had burst open during the journey. It
was necessary to buy a new one, as we could not have continued
our journey without danger of losing our effects. With this initial
experience in shopping, we began to learn something about prices
in London, which to us appeared fabulous. As everything is big
in this great city, so also are its prices.

Leaving the Sisters’ House to go to the centre of the city, where
all the commerce is transacted, we entered a small station. Having
taken our tickets, we stood with many others in what appeared to
us a room, waiting to start, when suddenly we felt ourselves
descending into the earth. Then there was a stop, and we found
ourselves in a large subway, lighted by electricity. People began

181

Liverpool to Nezv York — November^ 1898

to run as if they were running for their lives, and without saying
a word. In London everybody seems to move about in silence.
So, we too followed and took our places in the train, or, rather,
trains, for there was a line of carriages which could not be counted
in the light, for it was like night so deep down. We had hardly
got into our compartment when the train moved off, and, as quick
as lightning, we found ourselves in the centre of the city, having
gone all the way underground. At the station we entered a lift,
though owing to its large size it did not seem to be a lift. Then
we rose and came out into the daylight. We went around admiring
the great edifices, which are really beautiful. When we asked
people the way, they not only answered kindly, but even offered
to carry our bag and umbrella. We asked one man the way, and,
after pointing in the right direction, he apologised at not being
able to accompany us, saying he had urgent business on hand.
We entered a shop about six times the size of that of Bocconi of
Milan, to buy something we needed, and were treated with great
kindness and courtesy. We were offered chairs and shown what¬
ever might interest us. In other countries they speak of nobility
and courtesy, in London they practise it. In one shop where we
were unable to get a trunk, the manager had us accompanied by
one of his clerks and gave him instructions to help us to get what
we wanted. Similar examples I could cite by the hundred. This
is how they treat Sisters in England; and God, Who considers as
done to Himself whatever is done to His servants, will bless this
nation and give it the grace of entering into the One True Church.

November lOth, The weather has been beautiful and the days
most gorgeous as we have proceeded, but to-day it is so cold that
we cannot stay on deck. Fortunately, we are able to stay in our
cabins, and very comfortably also, as we are not troubled with
the smell of pitch, which is so disagreeable. We need not go to
the common room. We spend a happy time, praying, reading and
practising languages. Sister Frances, who thinks she is already
very clever at Italian, teaches it to others and amuses us with
her mistakes, which she makes with so much grace and personal
enjoyment. The other day they asked her nationality, and she
said she was Italian because she belonged to an Italian Insti¬
tute. One of the officers, sorry at seeing us always shut up, would

182

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

come or send for us whenever there was anything new to see;
especially when a steamer was in sight. This he did to mitigate
the monotony, which he thought must be trying for us. But we
were not in the least inconvenienced, because we were united with
our Jesus and doing His Holy Will. We had Heaven in our
hearts. The immensity of the ocean, with its most clear and
vast horizon, raises our minds to Heaven. It seems as if the
sky, with its clouds of singular beauty, touches the waters of the
ocean. All this helps to raise one’s mind to the most beautiful
contemplation, and seems to bring us to the door of Heaven, and
to enable us to hear the echoes of those holy and sweet words
which the Church repeats with great jubilee, ‘‘Alleluia, Alleluia.”
Holy Mother Church never tires of repeating these words, as
though to give us here below a foretaste of the harmonies of
Heaven.

Let us return to London again, where courtesy and politeness
reign supreme. It was mid-day, and, as my companion was
hungry, I looked round to see if I could find an hotel, when I
discovered one with an Italian name. We went in and asked
for something to eat, and were received with great cordiality.
They made such a fuss, that one would have thought we were
relations. They put us at a nice little table, all by ourselves, and
served us a la Milanese, It was a great pleasure to meet these
Italians, who are a credit to their nationality, for they are good
Catholics, loving their religion and practising it. It happened to be a
day of abstinence, and they offered us whatever we could eat in the
circumstances. The day flew by very quickly, and, seeing that it was
near sunset, we went to the station from which we started in the
morning. This was easily reached, as the Underground runs
throughout the city like a labyrinth. We took our tickets as in the
morning, descended by the lift, and were in the train in no time.
Having passed two or three stations, I remarked to my companion
that I thought we had made a mistake, as our station did not seem
to come round, and it was difficult to find one’s bearings in the
Underground. Sister Frances encouraged me by saying that, hav¬
ing been all round the city, the journey seemed longer, and that we
should soon arrive at the correct point. I remained quiet for another
few minutes, and said another decade of my rosary, but, not feel-

Liverpool to New York — November^ 1898

183

ing convinced after having passed two other stations, I asked the
conductor where we were. Our surprise was great when he saw
our tickets and told us we were very far from our destination.

We had to leave the train, and after descending, crossed a bridge
to take a train going in the opposite direction. We then stopped,
after some time, at a station, which we were told was quite near
the Convent at which we were staying. We inquired where the
Convent was, but nobody seemed able to tell us. Night was com¬
ing on, and the darkness was great, as the moon, surrounded by
clouds, looked more like a lamp going out, while its light rather
bewildered us than showed us the way. In the end I was obliged
to take a cab, but even the cabman had to ask continually where
the Convent w^as situated.

On August 2nd, we left London to go to Manchester where some
friends awaited us, and where Sister Frances was able to see her
relatives before leaving for the Missions. Before leaving London
we saw Monsignor Bourne, Bishop of Southwark, and bade fare¬
well to the dear Sisters of the Retreat, who had become very
attached to us and wanted us to stay on longer. At nine a.m.
we were at Victoria, where we gave orders with regard to our
luggage. The porters were going to weigh it to ascertain the
cost of transport, when the clerk gave them orders to take it as
it was to the train. “The Sisters,'’ he said, “can go as they
are," and he gave me a ticket to reclaim the luggage at the end
of the journey. I was astonished at the courtesy shown me, and
interiorly implored blessings on this country of England, which I
soon should love to call, if possible, the “Land of Angels." (*)

(♦)NOTE—This letter is incomplete, as are also Letters X, XI, XII,
and XIII.

CHAPTER X

flew IJorl to Me
^eptemLet, 1899

aure

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

My dear Daughters,

September 2nd, 1899.

Peace be to you, and may it accompany you *
everywhere and always.

“L’alme belle e fortunate
Sol Gesu puo far beate
Senza Lui di un denso velo
Coprirebbesi anche il cielo.”

How lovely and sweet it is to undertake a sea voyage when one
is tired and worn out with the labours of the Missions! The
day was fixed, the cabins were secured, and September the 2nd
came all too quickly. I had to work day and night during the
last forty-eight hours to settle certain affairs, connected with the
Mission, which required a great deal of my attention. I had to
prepare the luggage at night, hence I was worn out when I got
on board the steamer. As soon as I had finished waving my
handkerchief to the Sisters, I sat on a chair, and fell asleep. When
I awoke I could not persuade myself that I was alone with Mother
Virginia. It was only then I realised that I was far away from the
Sisters and felt the sorrow of separation from them. It seemed to
me that I had still a word to say to one Sister, to give advice to an¬
other, to suggest something to a third, but already the immensity
of the ocean had isolated me from everyone, while the rainy weather
seemed to make me feel sadder. Reflecting upon my vocation as a

185

186

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Missionary, I remembered that I ought not to allow sadness to take
hold of me. So I entered into the Heart of Jesus, where I saw all
the Sisters, and though I could not speak to them, I asked the
Sacred Heart to tell each of them what I had forgotten, or what I
had not time to say. Great was my pleasure at the thought that the
Sacred Heart would inspire you with the good resolution to do
what I want you to do, and to add to it His Grace, and thus facili¬
tate the exercise of those virtues which give to true Missionaries of
the Sacred Heart that energy which makes them zealous for the
salvation of souls. Vast and fruitful is the harvest that the good
God spreads out before you, and you can extend your zeal all over
it, gathering every day abundant sheaves. You are the fortunate
Spouses of Jesus; you are therefore made the queens of all the
treasures of the King. Keep in mind that souls were redeemed
by the Blood of Jesus, and therefore you must do all in your
power to lead them to the Divine Heart. Work with fervour.
Love will enable you to work with fervour and fruit. In your
actions, your words and your sufferings, seek always the greater
glory of God, and even perfection to which you must incessantly
aspire will be animated by that most noble end—^the glory of God.
Unite all the powers of your spirit; work, pray and suffer. Do
continual violence to yourselves, ever mindful of the words, ‘‘Omnia
possum in Eo qui me confortat.*’ Have great confidence in God;
let your confidence grow greater every day. You are poor crea¬
tures, and so you must lean on the Creator. You are weak and
miserable, hence you must rely on the Divine Omnipotence. Yes,
my daughters, lean on your Beloved, because the soul that abandons
itself to the Most Adorable Heart of Jesus in everything it does,
is not only sustained but even carried forward by Jesus Himself.

September 4th. This was the second night I had spent on board,
and still the fatigue, which had not as yet abandoned me, left me
somewhat indisposed. I awoke many times, and it took me
several minutes to realise where I was, for I still imagined I was
in New York, and that it was time for me to get up to go on with
the work of the Missions which I had begun, and which you, with
indefatigable zeal, should continue. I was even unsettled by
anxiety, but, by the grace of God, I did not allow it to conquer
me. I consoled myself with the thought that the work was well

New York to Havre — September^ 1899

187

protected. I wish now to speak of my last Mission, in which, with
the approval of His Grace, Archbishop Corrigan, I opened a
School at “Five Points,” where the Protestants work with great
ardour, especially among the poor Italians.

The devil has made use of every strategy against me for several
months past, even setting the most ridiculous obstacles in my way,
but I hope to conquer, and my hope is supported by the
indefatigable zeal of Archbishop Corrigan, who desires the School
and supports it. However difficult a work may be, I always
place it in the Adorable Heart of our sweet Jesus, and thus I rest
sure and tranquil, even though I am far away, for I know well
that He can do and complete the work I desire for His glory.
When I am on the spot I shall work with might and main, but when
Obedience calls me away to work elsewhere, I must leave without
anxiety the previous work, trusting in Jesus that He will give
help and energy to the Sisters who have to continue the work
which I have left interrupted. Oh, the law of love is so beautiful
and amiable! He has given it Himself to His creatures. But
we cannot love Him if we are not first loved by Him. Having
given such a law. He has communicated to us the grace with
which to love Him. What shall we not do, then, for love of a
God so amiable and generous towards us, that He has called us
to follow Him closely and to continue His Mission on this earth?
Let us correspond to His Love. Let us be generous, remember¬
ing always that the salvation of many souls is entrusted to our
charity. We can do nothing of ourselves, for we are poor and
miserable, but if we have faith and trust in Him Who comforts
us, then we can do all things. Let us open wide our hearts, let
us help those souls lying under the yoke of the king of darkness.
Let us break, by the fire of ardent Charity, the heavy chains that
bind these poor souls to the terrible slavery of the devil, and we
shall see that our efforts are not in vain. Let us fall at the feet
of Jesus, and, sorrowing over the iniquity of the world, supplicate
the Divine Heart to open the treasures of Its infinite Mercy. Then
let us begin anew, never allowing ourselves to be overcome by
fatigue. Difficulties should never frighten the Spouse of Christ,
but render her stronger and more steadfast. Do not be discour¬
aged by repulses and contradictions, but always go forward with
the serenit}^ and strength of the Angels, keeping to your path

188 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

despite every contrary influence. When things are easy, every¬
thing appears to smile, but difficulties prove where there is fidelity
and constancy. Remember, daughters, you are the tutelary Angels
of the earth, therefore you should always be ready when holy
obedience calls, to fly over the vast fields which charity lays before
you. Let your lives be a perennial sacrifice of yourselves in behalf
of the human race. Let your joy consist in working much and
praying much. Always renew your offering as victims of expiation
and reconciliation between Heaven and earth. In contradictions
and difficulties, bear in mind how Our Lord let the Apostles work
all night in vain, midst the storm to try them, so that they might
accustom themselves to suffer adversity, and not grow faint in
the midst of persecutions they would meet in the course of their
lives, but, rather, resist and go forward whatsoever the difficulty
might be. And you, dear daughters, who are destined to continue
the Mission of the Apostles, enter often into yourselves, amidst
the retirement and silence which your rules allow. Look into
your souls. See how you behave in moments of adversity and
prosperity, both of which form the two storms of our lives.
Greater is the storm of prosperity than that of adversity, but in
either you may be shipwrecked. Examine yourselves well at the
two examinations of conscience every day, which are exacted by
your rule. See if you allow inordinate affections to predominate,
and if you behave as you should when exposed to winds contrary
to your spiritual welfare, no matter how much they serve to flatter
your imagination and desires.

I wish you were all on board with me to-day. What a spectacle!
An horizon so vast gives one an idea of immensity; wherever
one turns to look, all is tranquillity. The steamer is travelling at
great speed, but we hardly notice it, as the elements that surround
us are so quiet that the steamer cuts through the waves with ease.
One would almost think we were sailing through the sky, the
waves being of such a pale blue that they resemble the skies.

This is a beautifully spacious and comfortable steamer —La
Touraine. I have not seen another which provides so much
comfort and convenience. It is like a small town, with its streets,
avenues and squares. Magnificent rooms, parlours, studies and
apartments with every possible comfort, help to make up this
floating ''town.” The personnel is very good and kind. The

189

New York to Havre — September, 1899

Captain on board is a king and a father also; he acts in both
capacities—he is as majestic as a king and as charitable as a
father. Seeing that our cabins were situated in London Avenue,
some distance from the dining-room and the stair leading to the
decks, I asked him to change them, and, to our great surprise,
he gave us a luxurious apartment with two beds, on the top deck,
the best and most comfortable. Near us is a wonderful parlour
with a balcony, which is under the lamp which lights up the
salon and dining rooms. This parlour is at our disposal, and
no one is allowed to enter unless we wish it. It is here that I am
writing. Mother Virginia keeps me company, sitting on a deck
chair or lying now and then on her bed, free of sea-sickness, from
which up to the present she has greatly suffered.

The passengers are a select class of people. Many are Spanish,
some Americans and Italians and a few French. We have on board
an Augustinian Friar, a French Priest, an Italian Priest, an
American Priest, several Sisters, an Ursuline, a Marist and four
Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny. The priests and the first two
Sisters sit at the same table with me, and help me very much, as
I do not know which of the dishes offered will best suit me, for
I’m like a fish—I feel better on sea than on land.

September 5th. Last evening, just before supper, the Captain
came to see us, and we asked him what kind of weather we were
likely to have during the night, as we had noticed a change come
over the sun during the day as if it were late autumn, and we
felt the atmosphere growing colder and more trying to bear. The
Captain said he could not say, and so we concluded something
new was about to happen. We also asked the staff, but, despite
their kindness, they would not tell us the truth, faithful to their
rule of not making known any probable danger to the passengers
beforehand. We all went to table, but, after the first course,
everybody, one after another, left, as the steamer swayed from one
side to the other. We were naturally upset. Mother Virginia
fled to her bed; it is the only place for her when the steamer
rocks. At our table, only the Marist Sister and I remained until
dinner was over, and then we took a walk on deck, thanking God
for having made us such good sailors. But the rocking increased
and the air turned colder, so I thought I would go to bed also.

^90 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

About nine-thirty the silence was broken by the fog-horn. This
is a sign of great fog, and is blown to call the attention of other
steamers which may be coming in the same direction, as it is
impossible to see them amidst such dense darkness. The move¬
ment still continued, but, fortunately, it was of a rolling character
rather than a pitching one, but the quite unusual activity of the
crew frightened us as well as the other passengers. Coincidently,
the points of our meditation spoke of the storm which tossed the
Apostles, and so we became quiet at the thought of the beautiful
words of Jesus to His beloved Apostles, “Habete fiduciam,'^ and
''Ego sum, Nolite timere.'' In fact, having our beloved Jesus
with us, why need we fear ? He is the Master of Creation, and all
creatures obey Him. He is the source of every good, of every
consolation, so we have every reason to remain perfectly serene.
I had a small statue of the Redeemer, which I held up towards
the sea with great faith and asked Him to bless the waves, at
the same time saying to Him, "Ne discesseris a me, intende in
adjutorium meum.’^ Then I went to sleep quietly and trustingly.
Shortly after the fog-horn stopped. This was a sign that the fog
had disappeared. Though the rolling continued, I had no fear,
although we were passing Newfoundland, where the weather is
always bad.

The life of the Saints in Heaven is a life of love and praise;
such should be the life on earth of a Religious, so much favoured
by our Heavenly Father. Our whole lives should be employed
in Thanksgiving, because at every instant we receive infinite
blessings from the Most High. Saint Paul always recommended
thanksgiving to the Faithful, and to the Corinthians he wrote,
'All things are for you, so that abundant graces may redound
abundantly unto the glory of God by the thanksgiving of many.''

The greater number of men give thanks to God only after having
obtained a grace, but the spirit of Jesus Christ, by which we should
be animated, teaches us to thank Him first, because the benefits
we receive are continual and at every moment. This is the best
disposition you can have to move the Divine Heart in our favour.
It is a great comfort to me when in some Houses where they make
Triduums and Novenas to obtain a favour from Heaven, I hear
added to the prayers, "Agimus tibi Gratias." Then I’m sure the
prayer will be heard. Yes, my daughters, thanksgiving is a perfect

New York to Havre — September^ 1899

191

act of love, because in it we have no other interest than the glory
of God, the pleasure of God, the complacency of God. When we
ask, we are moved hy our own interest, but when we thank, we
are moved by more noble and more perfect sentiments. Let us
repeat, children, let us repeat the hymn of thanksgiving which,
like a blessed and ardent arrow coming from our hearts, will fly
to and wound the Heart of our most loving Spouse and Benefactor.

September 6th. What a terrible night we have passed! The
steamer seemed to jump and fly out of the water. At other times
we thought it would capsize. Everything was on the move. It
seemed as if we were going to fall out of our beds; we had not a
moment’s rest. At dawn there was a little calm, and then we
tried to rest our tired limbs, which seemed bruised after the con¬
tinual and by no means gentle rocking. Having been accustomed
to quiet voyages, I did not know if this was a dangerous storm.
So, about midnight, hearing the crew and staff moving about, I
rang up the steward and asked if it were necessary to prepare for
any emergency, but he said there was nothing to fear, and to remain
quiet, as there was a good sea. Though I could not believe that
the sea was good, as the effects were quite the contrary, yet the
cool and pleasant air of the steward made us feel reassured. If
there had been moonlight, it might not have been so bad, but the
night was very dark. At nine a.m. the rocking began again. I
was still in bed, for I could not get up, and the stewardess asked
if we wanted some breakfast. I told her to bring us some coffee.
It was the first time I had ever had anything brought to my bed,
and the poor coffee reached me at a very bad moment. No
sooner had it been poured out, than cup and coffee pot, by a
sudden jerk of the steamer, were scattered over my bed. I was
forced to get up whether I liked it or not. Poor Mother Virginia
would also have liked to get up, but this involuntary rocking took
away all her strength, so that she could hardly move without feel¬
ing sick.

September 7th. The wind has not ceased yet, and the steamer
is tossed about as if it were a mere shell. The sea, however, is
calm, and this contributes to our feeling much better, giving us
the opportunity and pleasure of doing some good. On deck, we

192

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

contemplate the vast horizon, and in the immensity of the ocean
we see reflected very brightly the attributes of God, especially His
power. His wisdom and His goodness. How great and admirable
is our loving God in His works! He made everything, made it for
us, and great should be our gratitude. It ought to be an immense
source of comfort for us to remember the many favours we have
received and by which every hour of our lives is marked. We
should often in spirit adore the Hand of the Sovereign Donor, for
every grace is a special act of the love of God. This vast multitude
of graces should not render us indifferent or negligent in showing
our gratitude, for the multiplicity of them does not diminish their
value, but, rather, increases it and makes it more valuable.

Let us frequently consider the graces with which we are con¬
tinually surrounded through the immense goodness of God. Let
it be an incentive to warm our hearts with holy gratitude, which
in turn will inebriate us little by little with Divine Love. Be
assured, dear daughters, that if you are faithful in expressing your
gratitude in the loving service of your God, Jesus, Spouse of
your souls, will work in you new prodigies of graces and blessings.

The flame of the love of God will not die in you, for it is like
fire. The more it spreads and increases, the more it requires to
be fed. Love is the fountain of grace, and grace has a sublime
power of attraction. Love is industrious, and becomes, by way
of superhuman effort, like unto the most pure gold of perfection.
It conquers sorrows, persecutions and difficulties. May the good
Jesus love us accordingly and accompany us always with every
grace. Often you complain of being far away from Jesus. That
is not so—He follows you everywhere. Be faithful. Leave the
common ways. Walk swiftly in His footsteps, and, sanctifying
yourselves, you will save many souls who will follow your example
and listen to your words. If you love God with great fidelity, it
will follow that all your actions, sufferings and affections will be
marked with the Divine Seal, so that your fidelity, your loving
work, which, in its beginnings is like a small stream, will grow in
its admirable course and became like a broad river.

September 8tJi. Beautiful, tranquil and gorgeous is the morning.
It is the birthday of Her who, with Jesus, forms the great joy of
Heaven, and the happiness of their children on earth. Happy are

193

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those who love Mary. What goodness, what tenderness does not
this blessed Mother show us! Her thoughts are all for us, whom
she calls her children, and we are hers in a special manner, for she
is the Foundress of our Institute, and it is through the goodness
of this Divine Mother that we are the Missionaries of the Sacred
Heart. Our Mother of Grace has us written on her virginal breast.
Often looking down upon us, she delights in us, and is pleased
because she sees in us the image of her Beloved Son. With greater
joy she looks on us when we are faithful to our holy vocation and
seek to closely imitate her celestial virtues. She rejoices when we
love much and work much for Him, for the love of Jesus is an ocean
of unending light, and when it lives in us it renders us as beauti¬
ful as the Angels. In order to be faithful and constant in Divine
Love, let us try to remain always under the mantle of our most ten¬
der Mother. She is the Dove of Paradise, and in her conception
crushed the head of our infernal and deceitful enemy. Look upon
Mary and imitate her. Having corresponded faithfully with grace,
she arrived at such a sublime degree of perfection, that she
became the most wonderful prodigy of celestial virtue, and sur¬
passed in sanctity all the Angels and Saints. Oh! dear Mother,
on this beautiful day you seem to show forth in a most particular
manner your beauty, your purity and your sanctity. Turn
towards us your most loving eyes, which give joy to Heaven and
consolation to the earth. Shower upon us thy blessings, the most
beautiful flowers of thy most precious virtues, that, under thy
protection, thy children may preserve themselves and grow beauti¬
ful, odoriferous with celestial perfume, and merit to be one day
transplanted into Heaven, where they will be with thee a pleasing
incense to the most holy Heart of Jesus.

I take up my pen again now, and it is three p.m. I wish you could
only see the blue of the sky, and how vividly the sea reflects it,
just as if the sea were the sky itself. The vast horizon gives us
an idea of the vast sovereignity of our celestial Queen and most
loving Mother. But what have I said? The vastness of the
immense seas vanish. The splendours of the sky are eclipsed and
the richness of the earth disappears before the splendour of our
celestial Queen: “Fecit mihi magna qui potens est.'' Yes, God
has done great things in our Mother because she was faithful to
the grace that He invested her with. What happiness is ours to

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have such a Mother as the Foundress of our Institute! Yes, she
did found it, because, whilst I was wavering, not knowing whether
God wanted this work, so many others were also praying to
the Virgin of Grace. I also prayed to her, and after many prayers
Bishop Gelmini commanded me to act. Bishop Bersani, with his
sweet character, induced me to obey without delay the command
I had received, and Monsignor Serrati helped me with great fervour
and energy; so that I found myself so implicated in the work
that I could not withdraw. From our Holy Mother Mary came
forth the Institute of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. She
is, therefore, our Mother. What have we to fear ?

September 9th. Our good Celestial Mother has quietened the
waves. At her command the sea became more and more beauti¬
ful. It really looks like a sky of most beautiful blue, and its
tranquillity gives one an idea of the soul united with Jesus Who
preserves peace of mind and makes everything easy and possible.
The steamer is travelling at a great speed, though we don't notice
the movement, and yesterday did four hundred and twenty-seven
miles, and is doing still more to-day. At a distance we can see
great fishing boats, and the sea looks so much like the sky that
the boats appear as if suspended in the air. The faces of the
passengers have now lost the look of sadness they had during the
past stormy days. They are happy and contented, but it is not
the weather alone that contributes to their state of mind, but
the thought of this being the last day of the journey. To-morrow
friends will meet friends, and merchants will receive their
merchandise, which they have perhaps calculated will bring them
great riches. We, leaning on our Beloved Jesus, have always
remained serene even in the stormiest weather. Some priests on
board would say often to us, ‘‘But you are always happy, like
those who have a clear conscience." I do not know if we really
have a clear conscience, but I do know we trust the Most Sacred
Heart of Our Lord Jesus, and, leaning on Him, we do not fear,
knowing well that He has a special care of us, and that not one
hair of our heads shall be touched without His permission.

CHAPTER XI

^enoa to i^uenod ^^ired

^l^ecemLer^ 1900

A. M. G. SS. C J.

2nd December, 1900.

My dear Daughters,

May the balsam of the sweetness of the most Sacred
Heart of Jesus penetrate into your souls, and
render you worthy to bear the title of the Mis¬
sionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Nel viaggio novel T’invoco e grido:

Nel tuo bel Cuore qual Colomba ascosa,

Dell! mi guida O Gesu, pel mare infido;

Vado e mi mostro senipre fiduciosa.

E tu, mio caro Ben, fra pioggie e venti
Spira al mio cuor fiamme d’amore ardenti:
lo bramo, il sai, che del tuo Cuore il fuoco
L’essere mio si strugga a poco a poco,

Lasciando infitto, al tuo sereno sguardo,

Nel cuor delle mie figlie un dolce dardo.

It is just a year ago to-day that I arrived at our House in Milan
at midnight, after having left Spain, where our foundation was so
wonderfully blessed by Jesus, in the goodness of His Divine Heart.
It was the vigil of my and our Patron, Saint Francis Xavier; and
the next day, as you may imagine, there was a great feast, a true
family feast. To-morrow will also be the beautiful feast of the
great Apostle of India, but none of you, my beloved daughters,
will be able to keep the day with me. Only the somewhat muffled
roar of the waves will typify the echo of your prayers, which, said

195

196

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

with such filial affection, will surely reach the mystical staircase
which leads to the throne of the Most High. The good God,
moved by your supplications, will send a choir of Angels to guard
this beautiful boat, Alphonsus XIII., on which I happen to be
travelling for the first time, and I have firm hopes that, after a
prosperous voyage, we shall arrive safe and sound in the port of
Buenos Aires, where our dear Sisters have been awaiting us for
such a long time.

I embarked with Sister Anna and Sister Michelina at Genoa, on
the 30th November of this dear Holy Year 1900. On the morning
of that day there was a great rush, as the Spanish Transatlantic
Company notified us, through the kindness of Monsignor Romero,
titular Bishop of Jasso, that they would sail at eleven a.m. The
Archbishop of Genoa, having so kindly favoured us by celebrating
Mass, gave us his heartfelt blessing, and withdrew in order to
allow us time to finish our final preparations for the voyage. At
a quarter to eleven, accompanied by a good number of Sisters and
children, we arrived at the port. Hiring some boats, we reached
the Alphonsus XIII., which was some distance up the bay, and
almost on the point of sailing, as we thought. We ascended the
gangway, one after the other, and on entering the salon found
His Lordship, Bishop Romero, who, having returned from Rome
after a pilgrimage which he had led, had hurried to get on board
in order to arrange three places for us. He received us just as a
father would. Our pupils took possession of the piano at once,
and gave an improvised reception in honour of the Bishop and^
the good Captain. It was a pleasant surprise to both, and put
all the passengers, who had the pleasure of assisting at the short
entertainment, in good humour. But eleven a.m. came very soon,
in fact, it was nearly twelve a.m. when the sound of the cannon
off the fort of Genoa was heard. So, with the thought of a speedy
departure, I bade good-bye to the children and Sisters, who
reluctantly descended the gangway to go into their boats. The
waving of handkerchiefs was very brief, as, in the midst of the
vessels that always lie in the port of Genoa, they soon disappeared
out of sight. We were all called to table, and we feared that once
away from the table we should feel the effects of the boat rocking,
but the vessel was still immovable, being secured by immense
anchors. We took advantage of these moments to put our cabins

Genoa to Buenos Aires — December, 1900

197

in order, but about four p.m. we asked why the boat had not set
sail, and were told, to our great surprise, that not until the dawn
of the next day would they raise anchor, as, owing to the bad
weather, the men had not been able to work during the night,
and so the cargo was not complete. I at once made up my mind
to send a dispatch to our House in Genoa notifying them of our
delay, and had hardly taken up my pen, when I perceived Mother
Augustine and Mother Lucia, who, having gone to the U.S.A.
agency to arrange for the prospective voyage of the Sisters, heard
we were still in port. It was quite a wonder that they did not
try to walk the waters to see us again. After having exchanged
joyous feelings, I asked the Sisters to go and fetch the Reverend
Mothers of the Convents of Codogno and Rome, and with the
best of wills they went, only too happy to share their pleasure
with the Community. Shortly after. Mother Augustine with the
two Superiors appeared. The Captain, moved by the affection of
the daughters for their Mother, said they could remain all night.
The Sisters did not need to be asked twice, and so, though they
will never have a Mission outside Italy, they passed at least a
night on board ship. The consolation we experienced at being
reunited that night, when to all intents and purposes we should
have been separated, you may imagine better than I can describe.

December 3rd. Feast of Saint Francis Xavier! What a great
day! It seemed to me that we could not be better placed for
keeping his Feast than on the ocean waves which this indefatigable
Apostle braved so often, and, who, in such a few years, brought so
many souls into the bosom of the Catholic Church. I will say
nothing of the life of our dear and holy Patron, for you know it
better than I, but I will ask you how it was that he became such
a great Saint and worked with such tremendous zeal? Only
because he remembered the words that Jesus Christ used to say
to those whom He called to be His Apostles. You know these
words so well. ''Sequere me—follow Me, and imitate My example.''
These beautiful and important words He said also to us, and,
fortunately, we have listened to Him, and have given ourselves
up to God with great generosity of heart, consecrating ourselves
to Him in the Religious life. But everything is not yet complete.
We have also to render ourselves perfect disciples in the school of

198 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

Jesus Christ, reproducing in ourselves all the beautiful and precious
virtues of the Divine Heart. Let us imagine we are like Saint
Francis Xavier, and always keep our Divine Lord before us, be¬
holding His mild gravity. His quiet amiability, Flis unalterable
evenness of temper. In thus copying his Divine Model, we shall
see how he worked, walked, spoke and taught. Let us think of
the perfection that accompanied every act, and let us force our¬
selves to imitate Him at all times and in every moment with the
fidelity which is possible to us.

This beautiful Feast Day we mostly passed in the port of
Barcelona. We thought we were going to hear several Masses,
as on December 2nd, but we ran the risk of not having even one,
as nearly all the priests went on shore. However, the admirable
Providence of God, Who watches over us, wished to console us
by way of a special favour. The only priest who had arranged
to celebrate on board, arose quite early to say Mass, as he intended
going to visit the city after. But he could not find the key of
the case in which he kept his sacred vestments. It happened
that we had just got up, and met the priest at his wits’ end because
of the lost key. He was, indeed, about to take breakfast. “No,
Father,” I said, “look again and you will find it, because we want
to hear Mass to celebrate the Feast of our Holy Patron.” So he
went to make another search for it, and he found it where he
least expected it, to his great joy. He said Mass at once, and we
received Holy Communion and so completed our preparation of
the previous evening. We regarded this as a pleasant surprise
from our Holy Patron, who, from the beginning of our Missions,
has never ceased to show his admirable generosity towards us.
If you could only see the sea! How beautiful it is! It presents
such a charming tranquility, and my two little companions, who
suffered so much the first days, are as well as if on land. They
eat, take walks on deck, work and perform all their acts of
devotion, as if they were in the Convent. They are practising
the Spanish language, so that when they arrive at the Missions,
they may not be totally ignorant of the tongue spoken there.
We are at table with Monsignor Isaza, Bishop Coadjutor of Monte¬
video, his Secretary and other priests, who know a little Italian
and like to hear it spoken. They always speak in Spanish to us
so that we may learn their tongue. The Bishop delights in speaking

Genoa to Buenos Aires — December, 1900

199

Italian to us, as he wishes us to enjoy the description he gives
of his visits to the various Sanctuaries he has recently visited, and
this, together with the news of these different countries, affords
us a source of great pleasure. Even Bishop Romero always
speaks Italian to us, and takes care of us like a father. From the
beginning of the voyage, he did all in his power to obtain a separate
cabin for me, but at the port of Barcelona a family came on board
which had the number of my cabin. I thought, then, I should
have to give it up and adapt myself to the circumstances and go
with the Sisters, but he, without my knowing it, saw to the matter,
and, before evening, came with the Captain to tell me they had
given another cabin to the new passengers, and that No. 4 cabin
would continue mine. Wonderful, indeed, it was, for a large
number of passengers came on board at Barcelona.

December Ath. Yesterday, at five p.m., the steamer raised anchor
again. It was a great day for one incident or another, passengers
coming on board, others leaving it, and others again coming to
greet their friends. We expected to see no one, as the Sisters of
Bilbao had so much to do in preparing for the first Mass which
was to be celebrated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Nevertheless, a surprise awaited us, for about three p.m., on going
to table for some refreshments, as is customary on this steamer,
we saw two priests, who on account of their venerable appearance
drew our attention. All looked and asked who these priests were.
‘'Perhaps they are Jesuit Fathers,*’ was the exclamation. The
inquirers turned to me also, but I said I knew no one in Bar¬
celona. In the meantime, the two priests came very near us to
greet a lady, when one of the Fathers recognised me, and I
recognised him at the same time exclaiming, “Oh, Father.” He
almost re-echoed in the same voice, “Oh, Mother, are you here
also?” He was the Provincial of the Scolopi whom I had met
seven years previously when I went to Buenos Aires to establish
the first foundation. He is a man of fervent spirit, and greatly
aided me during my first difficult moments. The other was the
Reverend F. Miracle, who was in very poor health when I saw
him in Buenos Aires, but now appeared so well restored in health,
that I had to look at him twice before I could recognise him.
Then he went to find Reverend F. Terradas of the same Con-

200

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

gregation, who had just returned from Panama, where I met him
six years ago. From him I had news of our Sisters of Panama,
where they are suffering from the revolution and civil wars that
have been going on for such a long time in poor Columbia, in
addition to the diseases that affect the country, such as yellow
fever, typhoid, small pox, and sometimes, though not so frequently,
“La peste bubbonica.'* For three consecutive years they have
suffered all these ills. But God’s wrath seems to be appeased
now, though the war still continues.

The admirable Providence of God has so far preserved our
Sisters from all ills, and, besides being able to continue their work
in the Academy, Schools and Catechism Classes, they also make
scapulars of the Sacred Heart, with the word “Cease” on them,
to give to the sick and the soldiers. The scapular works wonders,
and every letter we get from our Sisters gives us news of the
prodigies thus worked and obtained. Faith! What wonders it
works! Many say that these people are superstitious and that
their faith is not deep. But I say it is very good, and that their
faith is rewarded with greater prodigies than elsewhere. They
believe with simplicity, and this is one of the wisest qualities of
the true believer. They are ignorant, it is true, but they have
good reasons for their belief. God has infused the faith into
their souls, and they show every goodwill to become instructed.
No! The faith of the people is not to be despised. One may
not be able to express why he believes, he may not know how to
defend his belief, but he does know the reason of his faith.
How many illiterate souls, by reason of the purity of their hearts,
have raised themselves to God in sublime contemplation, thus
showing that those mysteries that are superior to science and to
the mind are not superior to the greatness of the human heart.
No! The mind does not understand the mysteries of our Holy
Faith, but the heart, that has the gift of faith, feels rather than
understands that they are the mysteries of love. Yes! The
Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the Holy Eucharist are mysteries
of a God of Love, of a God who is a Father to us. Brother, Victim
and Food. These mysteries are proofs of an infinite love. The
heart feels the truth because it must be infinitely loved. Oh,
faith! Oh, Most Holy Religion, what great good you have brought
to humanity! Appearing amidst the darkness of ignorance, you

Genoa to Buenos Aires — December, 1900

201

have crushed error, you have secured both for reason and for
truth a place that they can never lose.

December Sth, At dawn this morning we arrived at Malaga.
The steamer stopped quite near the land, and all got out. So I,
also, thought I would like to make a little visit to the town, and,
as everyone was buying the raisins of Malaga to take to Buenos
Aires, I also secured a box as a memento of the place. But I had
better luck than the others who went into smart-looking shops to
get theirs, where they had to pay more for the box than for the
raisins. I, however, fixed my eye on a donkey which was descend¬
ing a near mountain, loaded with boxes of celebrated grapes of
that mountain. In the evening everybody returned with their
beautiful and elegant boxes, and I with my rustic box, which
contained an abundance of raisins, and less costly. At table
someone offered us a bottle of Malaga wine, and I, wishing
to reciprocate, sent to the cabin to get one of the bottles that
Mother Augustine had placed there. They asked if it was Malaga
wine. “Yes,’’ I replied, “it is in Malaga.” They enjoyed the
joke, drank the wine, and were surprised at its exquisite taste,
particularly the Bishop of Montevideo. They could scarcely believe
that such good wine came from Piedmont.

December 6th. Whilst at supper, the steamer saluted Malaga,
and very slowly steered towards Cadiz under a serene sky. The
quiet sea and pleasing temperature seemed to be atmospheric
conditions more suited to pleasure-seekers than to people going
out to work on the Missions. Our good Jesus plays with us and
treats us as children, always compassionating our weakness. It
means that we ought to endeavour to be generous, if He wants
to try us with bad weather, though we are inclined to think He is
always going to give us good weather. Resigned, however, to
the Heart of Jesus, resigned to everything that pleases His Most
Holy Will, we feel greatly consoled and experience an anticipated
Heaven. We arrived at Cadiz this morning at five a.m. The
steamer stopped, and this made it easier for us to go to the chapel
and hear Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion. We wanted
to go ashore, but the steamer was too far from land, and I thought
it better not to go, as I had not got over the cold which I caught

202

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

at Genoa while on deck saluting the Sisters. With the cure Fm
using, my cold will soon be gone. Even here I am able to use
the milk-cure, though the milk, of course, is not so fresh and tasty,
as, on board, condensed milk is generally used. There was a time
when I could not even bear to look at tinned milk, but forced by
necessity to try it, I find it quite good. They told me it was even
better than fresh milk, as it is like sterilized milk.

December 7th, Yesterday so many new passengers came on
board that we could scarcely move. The steamer is full and all
the cabins are taken except one which the good Captain left for
me. I have changed cabins as many times as we have found
ports to stop at, because the new passengers who come on board
have booked these particular cabins, and I have had to give them
up, for they were mine through kind favour. To-day is the third
time I have had to change in this way, just like those who go to
Rome from the hundred cities, and change houses every month
not to pay the rent.

December 8th, This morning, before the break of dawn, the
glimmering rays foretold that a bright light would arise to illumi¬
nate us with its splendour and raise our souls to noble and higher
sentiments. So I could sleep no longer. It was the precious
aurora of the day of the Immaculate Conception, and it seemed
to me that the most meek Dove, our most pure Mother, had
turned her gaze of special predilection to greet us amidst these
wild waves, and with her voice, which carries away one's heart,
invited us to rise and praise her and to put ourselves securely
under the mantle of her maternal protection. Thinking of our
dear Mother, I forgot all about fatigue. Going quickly to the
chapel, we heard the first Mass. At the second we received Holy
Communion in company with Maria Santissima, and so where we
could not merit for ourselves, she, who is called the Immaculate,
well merited for us. Oh, how beautiful is Mary Immaculate! God
Himself created her worthy of Himself, all beautiful, all pure, all
noble, all glorious! Oh, how beautiful is our Mother! The three
Divine Persons love her singular majestic beauty. Mary is the
greatest and the most glorious work which came from the hand of
the Omnipotent, after the Most Holy Humanity of Jesus. Mary,

Genoa to Buenos Aires — December, 1900

203

amongst pure creatures, is the closest and most perfect image of
God; the arm of God, the wisdom of God, the goodness of God are
reflected with visible splendour in this privileged creature. She
alone renders more glory to God than all the angels and saints
taken together, and the fragrance of her virginal purity exceeds the
purity of all the angels. ‘‘Tota pulchra es, Maria et macula origi-
nalis non est in Te.'’ How beautiful is Mary! How amiable is this
most noble creature! She is the manifestation of God on earth.
Through her God will be known, adored, loved and blessed in the
world, and so, rightly and in a special manner, Mary is the Mother
of the Missionary of the Sacred Heart, who has for her scope the
sublime mission of instructing her people in the knowledge and
love of our Divine Redeemer, who, in the infinite goodness of
His Divine Heart has deigned to call us to so sublime a vocation.
What shall we fear, daughters, if Mary Immaculate, the pure Dove
of God, is our Mother, our Refuge, our Hope, the cause of our
joy? In God, dear daughters, let us put all our strength, our
hope, as in their Principal Cause; in Mary as in their secondary
cause. In God, as the prime cause of all good, of all graces. In
Mary, as the salutary aqueduct through which we derive the
most pure waters of His Divine Goodness and Mercy. To-day
we had a number of Masses. I arose at four-thirty a.m., and at
five a.m. I called the Sisters. I went immediately to the chapel
for the priests had already begun to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice.
After seven low Masses, we had a Solemn High Mass celebrated by
the Auxiliary Bishop of Montevideo, who also gave a beautiful
sermon on the Immaculate Conception and on the meaning of such
a dogma, proclaimed by Pius IX, so great and so famous. He
showed how strong the American people were in their belief in
the Immaculate Conception, even before it was defined as a
dogma, and dwelt on the sublime words of the Angel Gabriel who
saluted Mary. ‘‘Hail, full of Grace.’’ She is, indeed, a singular
Virgin, the Co-redemptrix of the human race, the true Mother of
the living. In Mary everything is great, providential: the mission
of Mary in the world has a character all its own. She is like a
resplendent sun, her light is immensely powerful, her splendour is
heavenly, her beauty is divine. Mary lived more in God than in
herself. She was more where she loved than where she lived,
and therefore her intellect was more limpid and clear than those

204

Travels of Mother Franees Xavier Cabrini

of the Seraphim, her will being fully conformed to the Divine
Will. In her beautiful soul all is light, beauty and harmony.
Her body is most pure, immaculate; her purity is angelic. She is
most faithful, and abandons herself entirely to God; her intention
is always pure and most perfect, her love of God most fervent.
It was her strong, continual and interior love that made her surpass
not only the love of all the Saints, but even that of all the Seraphim.
Her humility was most profund, she always sought seclusion, and
kept secret from everyone, and even from herself, her highest gifts.
Her charity for her neighbour was like a sweet balsam; all the
miseries of the world seemed to find a place in her heart so sweet
and merciful by its very nature. And to-day, oh, daughters, what
are we to say of the characteristics of Mary? Her innate inclina¬
tion is to diffuse everywhere her graces, to console all, to lead all
to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. Oh, how beautiful
and majestic does Mary appear! She is truly the holy and mystical
city of God whose glorious foundations are on the peaks of the
most sublime mountains. But I should never finish talking of
Mary, because everywhere we behold her beauty, her power and
her majesty. Of her the sea speaks by its immense extent. The
waters, with their blue and transparent colours which, like crystals,
reflect the colours of the most precious, rare and resplendent stones,
are in their mute language like an open book recording the virtues
of Mary. I should be happy if I could raise your hearts and souls
towards Mary, and infuse in you a strong hope, a firm trust and a
true devotion to that sweet and most loving Mother. When your
weaknesses tempt you, run to Mary, invoke Mary, look at this
beautiful Morning Star, who by means of her splendour disperses
all darkness. If you are in danger, if your hearts are confused,
turn to Mary; she is our comfort, our help; turn towards her,
and you will be saved. Follow her, and you will not mistake the
road that leads to Heaven, for Mary is the Gate of Heaven, and
you know it well, for you never tire of singing every evening,
'Telix coeli porta.*^ Blessed are you, who follow with fidelity this
beautiful devotion of singing every evening in praise of Mary, the
Ave Maris Stella. I never, even on the sea, forget to render this
pious praise to our most loving Mother. After dinner I go with
Mothers Anna and Michelina to the far end of the deck, and there
we give vent to our voices, and, uniting them with yours in spirit,

Genoa to Buenos Aires — December, 1900

205

we sing the Ave Maris Stella and say our prayers. Afterwards we
enjoy ourselves by looking at the traces which this colossal steamer
leaves behind it, as it cuts through the water so rapidly and so
majestically. What a beautiful sight!

December \0th. Yesterday was Sunday, and the Feast of the
previous day was repeated. There were several Masses, and then
a Solemn High Mass celebrated by Monsignor Romero, who ex¬
plained the Feast with that facility which is his particular gift.
Speaking of the answer given by Jesus Christ to the disciples sent
by John to ask if He were the expected Messiah, or if they were
to await another, he dwelt on the last words, ‘‘and to the poor
the Gospel is preached.'* Here he brought out the great energy
with which Our Lord pronounced these words, giving to the poor
more importance than He attached to the power to cure the lame,
to give sight to the blind and life to the dead. From this, the
preacher showed how necessary it was for the rich to take care
of the poor, for masters to give time to their dependants to fulfil
their religious duties and to have them instructed in the truths
of our Holy Faith. Let us hope the forceful words of the Prelate
did not fall on dry stony ground, for the attention and devotion
with which the passengers and the staff assisted at the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass was really edifying. Mass was celebrated in
the deck-salon where the passengers were, and underneath in the
dining-room, where the whole ceremony could be seen. The Cap¬
tain, Officers and Crew assisted. It was a most inspiring sight,
especially for myself, as it was the first time after twenty voyages,
that I had the happiness of seeing Holy Mass celebrated on a
steamer. Every evening, at seven p.m., a bell is rung for all to
come and recite the Holy Rosary. The statue of Our Lady
of Mount Carmel in the salon is uncovered. The Captain is
always the first on the scene, and it is most edifying to see
how fervently he prays. How good this Captain is! He is just
like a father; he has a good word for everyone, no one asks
him anything in vain. He comes every day to ask how we are
and if we need anything. He is a man full of faith, observing
God's law. He enjoys great peace of mind and communicates it
to others, gently inducing them also by his example to observe
the law of God, that law that has been imprinted on our souls by

206

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

the hand of the Most High. How sad it is to see those who,
through their own fault, have allowed the darkness of incredulity
to gather around them.

We have occasion to feel great sorrow in seeing men who, after
abandoning the Catholic Religion, after having rebelled against
Jesus Christ, reach the precipice of Atheism, Pantheism and
Materialism. 'There is no God,'' the first say. “There is no dif¬
ference between good and evil," the second say. “There is nothing
better than to accumulate riches by all possible means, and to
give way to pleasure," exclaim the last. By means of these
insensate theories they have upset the world, and many have
lost their own good sense and reason. From such errors have come
all the misfortunes that affect the present and menace the future.
Oh, daughters, let us render the homage of our fidelity and love
to our most loving Jesus, Who with ineffable mercy has deigned
to enrich us with all that is necessary to obtain our temporal
and eternal felicity. We are the children of God. Let us try
not to degenerate from such a high and sublime dignity, and let
us see that our heart, our soul and our life be always and entirely
consecrated to this merciful and good Father. Let us pray that
we and all creatures may give glory to God in time and eternity,
that His most holy law may reign and govern us and all men
from one end of the Universe to the other.

Now, we are all quite well. I never told you when I was not
feeling well, but, now that it is all over, I may as well tell you.
From Cadiz to Teneriffe I was obliged to sleep in the Sister's cabin,
as there was not one unoccupied owing to the increase in the
number of passengers. The Captain was very upset, and the
Bursar, who at first seemed very indifferent, came and told me
that as soon as a Colonel and his family disembarked at the Canary
Islands, he would see that I was well accommodated. In fact, just
as we arrived at the Canary Islands, at six p.m., they hurried to
put the cabin in order for me. It is very nicely situated in that
part of the steamer where the rocking is little felt, and there is
a porthole to the west which I can open at pleasure. I have to
keep it closed from four a.m. to seven a.m., as the sailors clean
the ship during these hours and throw water about heedlessly.
The water often enters through the portholes, and causes much
inconvenience to those who are not expecting it. I always close

Genoa to Buenos Aires — December, 1900

207

the porthole before I go to bed, as I prefer to put up with the
heat than to receive a surprise visit from a fish. I know the
inhabitants of the Gulf Stream, but I am not too friendly with
them. We had another stop in the Gulf of Santa Cruz off Teneriffe,
just in front of the peak of the same name. When I studied
geography as a child, which, together with history, I like better
than all other subjects, and read of the peaks most celebrated
for their height, I longed to see two especially, that of Miranda
and that of Teneriffe. The first I thought I saw while going
from San Sebastian to Bilbao, and from Bilbao to Victoria, which
journey I liked very much. I was told, however, that it was not
exactly there, and that I should have to go more to the west. If
God spares me, I shall see it when I go through Spain, where they
expect me on my return voyage. Now I shall see Teneriffe Peak
at last, when approaching Santa Cruz. We perceived at first a
beautiful mountain, cone-shaped, of a good height, and then other
smaller ones of the same form. They looked like the Pyramids of
Egypt. I almost thought I was passing through the Red Sea.
It was a great joy to all the passengers to see such a beautiful
sight. We longed for the steamer to stop, so that we might
contemplate this grand panorama, not made by man but by the
Hand of the Supreme Maker. Instead, the boat sailed on with
an extraordinary rapidity. You would almost think it had taken
wings and had become a flying fish, simply because our good
Captain had promised to reach port before evening, and at any
cost wanted to keep his word; so he increased the speed of the
ship’s engines. In fact, we reached here just before the sun had
entirely disappeared. As we arrived, the dinner-gong sounded
and, though reluctantly, we had to go to table at once, so as not
to keep Bishop Isaza, who presides at table, waiting, and also
to be present at grace. Whilst we were dining, night came on as
rapidly as it does in Central America, where twilight is unknown.
There was no moon either, so we saw nothing. The Captain
offered to take me ashore with the Custom officials, but as it was
night, I did not accept the kind offer. We went on deck instead,
and not far distant we could distinguish the Peak of Santa Cruz,
which was lighted up with electric lamps, and we also saw some
steamers which had either entered the port before us or were
about to enter at the same time as ourselves. Amongst them was

208 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

the Duke of Galliera, lovely in form and lighted up with a hundred
lights.

I have never travelled on that steamer, but I have done so on
the Victoria, a sister ship of the same Company. Of this vessel,
there remains only the wreck near Genoa after the disaster of
1898, when it was destroyed by fire. Its passengers were fortu¬
nately all saved, as well as the crew, by seeking shelter on the
Alicante, Five of our Sisters were the last to leave the ship at
the Captain’s bidding, who did all in his power to save it. The
fire took place in a cargo of sulphur, which it was impossible to
extinguish. That terrible disaster might have taken place in mid¬
ocean, where rescue would have perhaps been impossible, but the
loving Providence of God, Who watches over His creatures, did
not allow such a tragedy to happen. Our Sisters had with them
relics of Saint Vitallione, and the Holy Martyr showed the power
of his protection by rescuing everyone from danger, together with
the cargo, except the sulphur. The disaster was caused by
some youngsters having hidden themselves in the hold in order
to have a free passage. They had not the means to pay for
their passage, but they did harm to themselves and to others. It
occurred to me to tell you this, because on the steamer Alphonsus
XIIL, on which we are travelling, there were hidden seven youths,
from eighteen to twenty years of age, who took advantage of the
night during which we stopped at Cadiz. But the good Captain
and the Bursar, who are wide awake, and interest themselves in
everything, found them as soon as we left port and imprisoned
them. When we arrived at the Canary Islands, they were handed
over to the custody of the police at Santa Cruz of Teneriffe to be
sent back at the first moment to Spain, where they will be cross-
examined as to whether they sought a free passage because they
were unable to defray the expense, or because they had committed
some crime and were flying from justice. The two Bishops,
Monsignor Romero and Monsignor Isaza, as soon as they knew
the unfortunates were imprisoned, went to the Captain to obtain
their liberty. It was not difficult to obtain some clemency from
this good Captain—Captain Decampa. The good Prelates, in the
meantime, gave them some money which alleviated a little the
merited punishment.

That evening after dinner we found a store opened on the

Genoa to Buenos Aires — December, 1900

209

deck as if by magic. It had been arranged by some young men
from the Canary Islands, who came on board to sell wicker chairs,
small and large, and so nice that everyone was tempted to buy
one. They also offered shoes, laces, embroidery, silk shawls,
woollen vests, etc., and they did a good business, for the passengers
bought lots of things. A lady wanted me to help her, so I chose
one I liked, a table-centre, very well made. What was my surprise
when I found out that the lady had bought it to make a present
of it to me w’hen I call on her in her own house. I shall not tell
you the name of this lady now, but later on I shall have to speak
of her, as she intends to do something great for the Institute. As
soon as the lady had satisfied her purchasing propensity, we with¬
drew from the market, for we could not remain amidst such
confusion. In the morning we got up with the desire of going on
deck to enjoy the wonderful sights of these mountains, but we had
first to go to the chapel to hear Holy Mass and to receive Holy
Communion. The Masses succeeded one another, and we heard
them all on behalf of the souls of Purgatory, and so the time grew
late. The steamer raised anchor, steaming at a great rate, so
much so, that when we went on deck we were a great distance
from land, and only the top of the Peak of Teneriffe could be seen.
It appeared to follow us with all the majesty for which it is
renowned. It has a very pointed peak like the peak of a volcano
not yet fully open, and on either side of the slopes there extend,
in the shape of a tail, other mountains which seem to be its off¬
spring. This is a feature of volcanoes, which nearly always have
other mountains dependent on them, and in whose prominence,
it would appear, they find vent.

On the day after we had left the Canary Islands, the luggage
was placed on deck to satisfy the requirements of the passengers,
so that they might get what they wanted. Those who embarked
at Genoa were the last served, as their luggage was down at the
bottom of the hold. However, when the bell rung for dinner, I
asked the Head Steward to please watch for my trunks as I wanted
to open them. The man told me I could rest assured, as he would
see to them. When I came up, lo and behold, the man told me
he had seen to all my trunks, and had sent them down again.
Whether I had not explained myself sufficiently, or whether he
had misunderstood me, I do not know, but he thought he had

210

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

done me a great service. I said, ‘‘My good man, I wanted to open
them.” At this stage the Bursar came forward and asked me if
I would like to go down to open them, which offer I accepted at
once, but in the short intervening space of time they had piled
up so many on top of mine, that it was impossible to see them,
much less to open -them. Several sailors offered to remove the
great pile in order to extract mine, but I hadn’t the heart to make
them go through so much trouble and fatigue, so I contented
myself with my small state room trunk, lending the Sisters some
of my own clothes. Providence, which watches over us like a
loving mother, kept the weather cool. All had thought that the
heat would be suffocating, especially near the Equator, and for
some hours it was indeed such. But the rest of the voyage was
more of a pleasure trip than a tiring voyage.

CHAPTER XII

Buenos ^.y^lre6 to ^enoa
-^u^ust, 1901

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

From the Bay of Buenos Aires,

August 22nd, 1901.

My dear Daughters,

May the good Jesus be with you all and comfort
you. May He accompany us on your voyage
and conduct us to port. Amen.

Nel Cuor dolcissimo
D'immenso amore
lo voglio chiudermi
In tutte Tore;

Da Lui vo^ attingere
Pace e conforto
Ch* Ei fara scendere
Nel mare e in porto.

We embarked on the 22nd of August, but I have not begun to
write until to-day, the 28th, when we have just left the port of
Santos. The day I left Buenos Aires I was not feeling well, and
your farewell and that of the children had really overcome me,
and I remained in this exhausted state for a good while. Having
said good-bye to the three Sisters who were at the farthest end of
the bay, I went to my cabin and to bed. My bones were stiffened
with pain, and I hadn’t the strength to move the smallest object.
I wanted to put my cabin in order, but I had to leave it as it was,
for I could not stand. Two days later I felt better, and well
enough to go ashore at Santos, though it was raining. I asked

211

212

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

the way to the church, and those whom I interrogated wanted to
know if I was looking for the ‘‘Igreja/’ I was afraid of being
directed to some schismatic church, so said ‘‘No,” and went on.
On asking others I got the same reply, so at last I understood
that the word meant Catholic Church. Some offered to go with
us to the Parish Church, which they call the Mother Church.

When we arrived at the church we found Solemn High Mass
just beginning, accompanied by drums and trumpets, which took
the place of an organ or harmonium, neither of which the church
possessed. In the meantime we asked a priest to give us Holy
Communion at the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, and thus
comforted by the Food of Angels, we returned to the steamer, sure
of a happy and properous voyage. It was raining, and we got
quite wet. Had it not been that we wished to receive Holy Com¬
munion, we should not have gone ashore at all. We had two
umbrellas, but when we reached the church that of my companion
would not close, so we left it open without any one taking the
least notice of it. One good man turned to me and said, “It is
our curate who is celebrating Mass; he is very good and we love
him very much.” He spoke to me in Portuguese, and I understood
him fairly well, as it is a language which, one might say, comes
midway between the Italian and Spanish languages. I could do
nothing else but congratulate him. When we had finished our
devotions, we went to the sacristy to ask the curate's blessing.
He received us with singular kindness. He wanted to entertain
us longer, but we had no time, so said good-bye, accompanied
by his blessing, which seemed like that of a patriarch. I wanted
to visit the town, but there was no carriage to be had, so we
returned at once on board.

The steamer then departed, and in two hours' time we reached
Rio Janeiro. It was about two p.m., and I should have loved to
visit the town, but the steamer stood out a great distance from
the land. Moreover, the sea, as usual in this place, was very
rough, so I thought it better not to undertake the double journey
there and back, especially as I wanted to go and receive Holy
Communion the next morning, which I did not want to miss.
The captain had told me they would remain in port until the
following day at two p.m., so the next morning we went on shore
as soon as possible. They had offered me the ship's boat, but I

Buenos Aires to Genoa—A ugust, 1901

213

should have had to wait until eight a.m. So I decided to hire a
boat, trusting to the Providence of God to carry me safely through
the agitated waves and over a distance lasting half-an-hour. In
fact, we reached land quite safely, and turned towards the first
steeple we could see. We lost sight of it, however, as we passed
through the narrow streets and between the houses. So we asked
for the “Igreja,’' having learnt the name at Santos, and everyone
with great kindness pointed out the way to us. We entered the
first church we saw; it was called the Candelaria; it is beautiful,
rich and kept in great cleanliness. The altars are of very fine
coloured marble. On the High Altar there is a statue of Our Lady
with the Infant Jesus. This Madonna is called Our Lady of the
Candelaria or Purification. I took pleasure in counting the candle
sticks on the High Altar, which were grand and in the form of a
pyramid, and were placed at the foot of Our Lady. They were
fifty-two in number. Perhaps the number had some meaning,
but, not knowing the language, I was unable to ask why the
candlesticks should be fifty-two in number. As soon as we entered
the church we went to the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament which
was along the nave of the church, next to the High Altar. Above
it hung a majestic, monumental Crucifix, under which was a paint¬
ing of Calvary. Several Canons were reciting the Office, and
two altar boys were seated near the Canons. I called one to tell
him that I wanted to receive Holy Communion. He spoke to one
of the Canons, who answered that the Office would last two hours,
during which no one could receive Holy Communion. I could
not wait, so I asked the boy to show me the way to another
church, which he did very willingly. Saluting the Blessed Sacra¬
ment, I was just on the point of leaving when I met a priest and
told him I should like to receive Holy Communion, but that I
could not wait for two hours, and would he please show me the
way to another chuch? ‘‘No, no.’' he said, “stay here. I am going
to say Mass at which you can receive Holy Communion.” In
fact, as quickly as he could, he came and celebrated Mass at the
second altar of the church—the Altar of the Sacred Heart which
was beautiful also. As the lovely benches of the church did not
reach so far down as this altar, the sacristan came forward with
two lovely cushions for us to kneel upon. I was astonished at
so much kindness, but it was in keeping with the dignity of the

214

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

whole place that great courtesy should be shown to visitors. Hav¬
ing made our thanksgiving and had a look round the church, we
went out, and as my companion and I were now very hungry,
I sought a cafe where we appeased our hunger, and then, taking
a cab, we visited the town, which is partly built on hills. We
went to that part called Saint Anna, as they told us the Papal
Legate resided here, but, meeting a priest, he told us the Legate
was at Petropolis. We lost no time, and descending halfway,
we met the Vicar General, who asked us at once if we had seen
the Bishop. ‘‘No,’' I said, “for I did not know he lived here,
and I have no time to go back.” I gave him my visiting card to
present to the Bishop. He took it very kindly, said he would
present it at once to the Bishop, and that he would ask for a
special blessing for the prosperous continuation of my voyage. I
felt very sorry I could not return, but there was no time. From
this grand hill you can see the whole town and the bay. I should
have loved to go to Petropolis, but it was three hours distance
by rail, so there was no possibility of my going. Rio Janeiro is
really beautiful! I like its smiling hills, its spacious squares and
pretty gardens. I shall say nothing of the churches, as you have
an idea after my description of the Candelaria. The Canal which
enters the bay of Rio Janeiro is charming. What beautiful cone-
shaped mountains! One of these owing to its shape is called the
“Sugar Loaf.” These and others are so formed that they seem
to rain abundance on the country. Even at Santos the same
impression is made, though Santos is not so much favoured by
nature. It is simply a road to St. Paul, which city everyone
praises for its beauty. Brazil is certainly richer than the Argen¬
tine. They say it is not healthy, but I think that applies only
to the lower and marshy parts of the town, which, if cleansed
and put in order, would not suffer from contagious diseases.
There are some very narrow and dirty streets in Rio Janeiro,
and the water which runs in the gutters, instead of cleansing like
water does in the streets of Paris, rather helps to infect the town,
for it looks more like slush.

At Buenos Aires the superintendent of the “Veloce” Company
had given us two lovely cabins, one for the Sisters and one for
myself, opposite each other and in the best possible position, as
they were on the west side of the steamer, where one never

215

Buenos Aires to Genoa — August, 1901

feels the contrary winds. We could always keep our portholes
open and always have fresh air. At Santos a large number of
new passengers came on board. The steamer was quite full, and
there was no more room, but some recommended by the super¬
intendent and others by influential persons, managed to get on
board, and thus passengers in excess of the proper number were
accepted. I feared a little, but, as our tickets were endorsed
‘'Reserved Cabins,*^ I remained tranquil. The day was almost
over when I perceived the Doctor approaching me. On behalf
of the Commander he made a request. He said I had every right
to refuse the favour about to be asked, but, as it was a very
special case, he wanted to know if I would allow a lady, the wife
of a chemist of Saint Paul, a Venetian, to sleep in the same cabin
with the Sisters; she was travelling for family reasons only, and
her husband asked as a favour that she might be placed near the
Sisters. He made the request so courteously that it was impossible
to refuse him, and so I consented. And I am not sorry that I
did so, for the lady is very good, courteous and refined, so much
so, that one finds pleasure in her company. One would think she
formed part of the Community herself, everyone admires her and
respects her.

After we left Rio Janeiro, the sea was very rough or "bravo,’’
as the Spaniards say; indeed, it was so agitated that one would
think it was really "bravo” (angry). At night, especially, it
frightened me, as it was the first time I ever made such a long
voyage on such a small steamer as The Piemonte, When we left
Buenos Aires we were never tired of praising it, as it did not make
the slightest movement, but since it took on board a cargo of
twenty thousand sacks of coffee at Santos, it has never given us
a moment’s peace. It may have been the wind or the cargo, but
the fact remains that since that day the rocking never ceased, and
so momentous was it that one expected the steamer to capsize at
any moment. Not being an experienced sailor, I thought my fear
was justified, but the day after I asked the Captain, and all my
fear disappeared. Other disasters might happen, he said, but not
the capsizing of the boat. The Captain said the worst disaster of
all was fire, but, he added, that even in the case of fire there
were many ways of saving oneself, the boat being built in such
a way that it could be isolated into three separate parts in case
of such a danger arising.

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A-2

CHAPTER XIII

1902

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

My dear Children,

August 23rd, 1902.

Oh! quanti bei manipoli,

Che sparsi son nel campo
Senza temer inciampo,

Con Dio raccogliero.

Mon mi sgomenta il viaggio,
Neppure la procella;
Sempre da buona ancella
L’ufficio mio faro.

Gesul quel caro Dio
Mi accende in fondo al core
II palpito d'amore
Spronandomi ad oprar.

Su dungue, figlie care,
Sempre per me pregate,

II divin Cuore amate

Che il cuor puo inebbriar.

1

On board the Etruria, of the Cunard Line, my thoughts fly to
you, my beloved children; you, who afford me so much comfort,
and, though I am tired and worn out, nevertheless I write you,
for I know you are anxious to have some news, and it is a great
pleasure for me to satisfy your desires.

I arrived in London on August the 5th, after having visited
our House in Paris, which, like a steamer guided by a good pilot,
is spreading its sails and navigating prosperously in the midst of

217

218

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

the terrible storm that at this moment is agitating all Religious
Institutes in France, causing them great consternation. I could
not have done otherwise, for this brave Pilot, this Omnipotent
Pilot, is the Heart of Jesus of Montmartre, to whom I confided
in a special manner our interests in France. From the height of
that happy hill, where He is honoured. He benignly looks at His
children and defends them from the wild billows that assault and
threaten to destroy all that savours of Religion; in a word, every¬
thing animated by God's charity. It is a real miracle that the
House still exists. The Sisters near us, and even the Sisters of
Charity have been sent away from the schools. They could not
get the better of their enemies, though the people rose up to defend
them, guarding their houses night and day. We, as foreigners,
have few friends in France, and I did not ask even these few
to defend us, but I placed all my confidence in that sweet and
amiable Sacred Heart of Montmartre, Which in the end is destined
to save the whole of France, and will cause to arise from this
storm much good and new fervour that will render France worthy
of her honourable traditions.

So, on the 5th I left Paris, and taking the line Calais and
Dover, arrived in London. It was a fine day, but a greater sight
still presented itself to my vision on my arrival as the sun went
down. A sight I had never seen before appeared playfully in
the heavens. Some clouds resplendent with gold formed a glorious
throne, in the midst of which shone forth an extraordinary light,
surrounded by twelve shining stars which sent forth sparkling
rays. It seemed to be the throne of the Queen of Angels. I then
saw Our Blessed Lady wearing a beautiful diadem, with the Child
Jesus on her knees stretching His Arms out in the act of protecting
us. Though it was but the playful movement of the clouds at
the setting of the sun in England, its happening just as we reached
London gave us great pleasure, and it seemed to augur a special
protection from Heaven over our foundation in London. My two
companions, Mothers Flora and Albertina, were very enthusiastic
about this beautiful vision. At the station we were met by two
Sisters, who had been sent in advance to secure accommodation
for us, as owing to the approaching ceremonies of the Coronation
of King Edward and Queen Alexandra, it was difficult to find
lodgings in the great metropolis, where there were already as-

London to Nezv York — Angnst, 1902

219

sembled representatives from every part of the world. In fact,
the two Sisters found us a place with the Servite Nuns, with whom
we remained a fortnight; and in the meantime we visited His
Lordship, Monsignor Bourne, Bishop of Southwark, who, like a
good friend of our Institute, opened the way for us, so that in a
short time w^e were able to find a house on one of the hills of
London, and in a big parish where as yet there was no Religious
House, thus offering good field for us. I wrote to the Propaganda
to obtain the decree required for a foundation in England, and got
the answer very quickly, so that when we entered our new convent
we could say that the House was established with full ecclesiastical
approval.

The morning of the 23rd was very rainy and we had to leave
about ten a.m. We set out to take the twelve a.m. train for
Liverpool. You may ask why it took so long to go to the station,
but you would not be surprised if you were in London and saw
the vastness of this metropolis. If you take a cab for an hour's
journey, it is always wise to set out two hours in advance, as the
traffic of London is so great, that you never know when you will
reach your destination.

At twelve a.m. we boarded the train, which flew through towns
and fields at such a speed that at four p.m. we arrived without a
stop at Liverpool. We left the train to embark at once on the
Etruria, In a very short space of time she raised her anchors
and rapidly set out towards Ireland. The next morning we arrived
at Queenstown, Cork, where the steamer stopped for half-an-hour
only to take on board passengers, vegetables and fruit, and then
set sail at once, so that in a few hours time we were already on
the high seas. My companions were quite well, but after break¬
fast on the 24th they began to suffer from stomach trouble, and
for the whole day they had to keep to their cabins on account of
sea sickness. Mother Flora thought she was really going to die.
Mother Albertina acted the same way. I sent them to bed, and
there was no way of getting them up again. It was only this
morning about eleven a.m. that they seemed to get the better
of the sea. To-day the good little Sisters, persuaded that the
sea was all right, have come on deck to enjoy the fresh air, and
are feeling better. The sea is not so bad, but it is a little rough

220

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

and choppy, producing that rocking which is trying to those who
are not accustomed to the sea, and who do not love, as I do, the
sea like the fish. I feel better when there is a little movement,
and storms seem to give me an appetite. God tempers the wind
to the shorn lamb.'' He has made me, in the goodness of His
Divine Heart, a Missionary, and has confided to me far-distant
Missions, and though I have habitual ill-health, I feel better at sea.

But in the meantime I fly to you in spirit, rejoicing greatly at
seeing you gathered together to carry out the Spiritual Exercises
for the Annual Retreat. ‘‘I will conduct my beloved into the
solitude, and there I will speak to her heart." Blessed are you, my
dear daughters, who hear the voice of your Beloved, Who helps
you to appreciate more and more the sublimity of the Religious
state to which, through the sheer goodness of Our Lord you
have been called. Oh, yes, the Missionary of the Sacred Heart
bears the seal of God, and proves to all that her election to such
a state comes not from nature but from grace. His Divine Will, the
extension of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, is all that concerns us,
so that the luminous and glorious motto of the Missionary of the
Sacred Heart is always and everywhere—''All to the greater glory
of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus," and in difficulties, "Omnia
possum in Eo qui me confortat." Always appreciate the great gift
God has given you by calling you to Holy Religion. He alone, the
Master elects, calls and destines His Creatures to the noble state,
the high dignity of becoming His Spouses. Yes! God alone,
through His Divine goodness, chooses for His glory a weak, fragile
creature. No, it is not nature that can claim supernatural graces and
gifts of grace, but the goodness and benignity of God, who raises
nature to a celestial life. It is not nature that renders herself supe¬
rior to her strength, but Divine Grace which condescends to human
weakness and thus manifests the absolute authority of God over
us, while it discloses again His infinite mercy and goodness by
raising us poor human creatures to the Divine nuptials. Dear
children! it is only by an ineffable condescension that God deigns
to strengthen our fragile clay, to sanctify it, to purify it, and to
render it capable of becoming a precious instrument in the Re¬
ligious House, in the Church, both Militant and Triumphant. At
the end of the Retreat you will have the good fortune of renewing
your vows. This renewal is a new promise of a sincere and gen-

221

London to New York — August, 1902

erous offering which we make to our Divine Spouse, and it is a real
glory to be dedicated and consecrated to Him. To renew our
vows is to renew our Profession, to offer to the Lord the new
fruits of the same tree, and to burn on the same Altar of our heart
new grains of incense, in the odour of sweetness, to the Divine
Pleart.

By the renewal of our vows we confirm ourselves in good,
increase our fervour in piety and devotion, make ourselves more
energetic in the discharge of our duties, cling more closely to the
most amiable Heart of Jesus, love more tenderly the Institute to
which we have been called. This renewal recalls to our minds the
immense benefits received, and enriches us with new benefits, new
graces, new blessings and new merits. By the renovation of our
vows we cancel our faults, negligences, omissions and all the im¬
perfections we have committed, whether they be against our vows
or against the Holy Rules. It not only cancels and destroys in us
these stains, but strengthens all our acts of virtue. Oh! what an
immense benefit does the renewal of our vows bestow 1

Every time we renew our vows, it is as if we just then and there
took our holy vows or made our Profession, increasing again and
again the glory of God and our merits. All works that refer to
God directly never become old; our most loving Lord is His infinite
goodness always looks upon them with that same complacency with
which He regarded them when they were performed for the first
time. In every work God always considers our will, which should
be always firm, constant and persevering in serving Him faithfully
until death, just as we promised on the day of our Profession.

How this, my dear daughters, should animate us to frequently
renew the act of our total consecration to God, or, at least, every
time we go to Holy Communion 1

How much it helps us to remember our first Profession made at
the end of the Noviciate! Do you remember it? What a grand
day! It was really the day of the Lord!

‘'Haec dies quam fecit Dominus; exultemus et Isetemur in ea.'’
At that moment we experienced how lovely it was to consecrate
ourselves to God, and how Jesus had been awaiting us so long.
We tasted the ineffable sweetness of the Religious life. Our souls
were filled with gifts typical of a new Baptism, all of Divine fire.
The joy of the Holy Ghost, that so abundantly inundated our

222

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

souls on the day of our Confirmation, copiously filled our hearts
with celestial joy on the day of our first Profession. On that
solemn and never-to-be-forgotten occasion we drank large draughts
from the Most Holy Wounds of the Divine Redeemer. The
heavens lowered themselves and approached the earth. The Divine
Lamb, in the extreme amiability of His Divine Heart, exulted
with joy at celebrating with us the mystical Espousals. Remem¬
ber always, dear daughters, that our Espousal with Jesus was
the work of the Holy Ghost, Who united us with our dear Jesus
when we pronounced our Religious Vows. At that moment we
felt ourselves raised up to a new power of the knowledge and
love of our dear Jesus. The books of the Incarnate Wisdom were
disclosed to our intellectual eyes, and then it was we understood
new truths, new doctrines regarding our Religious Vocation and
our special Mission, predestinated to eternal glory, through the
observance of our vows. Then it was we entered the Promised
Land. Divine Grace opened out to us its treasures, and we
received from our beloved Spouse full faculties with which to
enrich ourselves at our pleasure. Regenerated on that holy day
into a holy and blessed new life, we were by a celestial wave
purified by Divine Grace, sanctified and reformed. We became
new creatures, living images of our Creator; in a word, on that
memorable day we were sealed by the Hands of God as His
inheritance and property, now and forever. But what merits had we
that we should be favoured to enter the House of God? On the
contrary, how many demerits that should have excluded us!
Nevertheless the good Jesus did not look at our unworthiness,
but only at His own Infinite Goodness. He really loved us, and
did good to us, introducing us into His Holy House, sharing with
us all His treasures.

Do you remember, daughters, the vision of Jacob? Whilst
journeying, he saw a ladder that reached from earth to Heaven,
and the Angels were ascending and descending upon it. Awak¬
ing, he exclaimed, ‘This is the Plouse of God, the Gate of
Heaven, and I did not know.’’

The passage from the Religious Community to Heaven is very
short. Oh, blessed, a thousand times blessed, are those who live in
the House of the Celestial Father, because they will praise and
glorify Him for all eternity.

London to Nciv York — August, 1902

223

Remember, however, dear daughters, that it is not enough to
live in a holy land to be holy; rather, it is necessary to live
saintly, according to the Rules, and in the actual exercise of virtue.
One cannot be called holy who merely l^elongs to a family of Saints,
if he does not walk in the footsteps of the Saints. Our Divine
Master, our most loving Spouse Himself, tells us so, ‘‘Not those
who say Lord, Lord, shall enter Heaven, but those who do the
Will of My Father.'’ And what is the will of our Celestial Father
in our regard? We have to comply with His Will expressed in
the Holy Rules, in our Holy Vows, and in other obligations proper
to the Institute.

If you want to become Saints, dear daughters, you must esteem
your Holy Rules and regard the observance of them as the price
of your eternal predestination. Be prudent virgins, always keep
your lamps lighted with faith and the fulfilment of the laws pro¬
fessed. Be faithful, and observant, both in the greater and the
minor Rules, for the most loving Jesus has prepared for you
incalculable riches.

Remember always, dear daughters, that the Holy Rules are like
a precious treasure which the loving Jesus gives His Spouse, so
that she may grow continually in merit and in virtue. They are
an inexhaustible mine of graces and blessings. They are fountains
from which gush forth the perennial waters of life and salvation.
They are the mystical chains of the solid gold of charity which are
like sweet ties ever drawing us closer to our most loving Saviour.
In the observance of the Rules, you will find, my daughters, a
superhuman strength to combat and to conquer all your enemies;
you will find peace, joy and all spiritual riches. If you become
really observant, you can say in truth you have found every good.
In your Holy Rules only does your perfection consist, and in vain
will you look for your sanctification outside of the road traced for
us by the Holy Ghost. Remember that every point of the Rule
has an immense importance for you, and it is for this reason I
always exhort you to be ever faithful in both greater and minor
regulations. Remember the story of Samson, whose strength was
in the hair of his head. When his hair was cut by Delilah, he
became weak and fell into the hands of his enemies. This fact
teaches us clearly that all the strength of a Religious is in the
observance of the Rules, even the minutest; figured by the hair.

224

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

When a Religious forgets or despises the observance of the
Rules, she loses the vigour of her spirit, her strength, her virtue,
and then falls into the hands of her enemies, who are ever
ready for her ruin. If our Holy Rules do not bind under pain of
sin, except when they are despised, it is nevertheless true that
every voluntary transgression, however small, is a disorder in
God's House, and inflicts a new wound on holy observance. More¬
over, it is a lack of correspondence with Divine grace, a sorrow
to the Most Adorable Heart of our most loving and sweet Jesus;
it is a degree of grace and glory lost. Saint Teresa was right in
exhorting and inculcating the exact and minutest observance of
the Holy Rules and time-table, because the diligent and observant
Religious will not only walk in perfection, but will fly along the
path of good, and in a short time will find herself rich in virtue
and merits.

27th. It is already the 27th August, and since last night the
fog-horn has been continually sounding, as there is a dense fog,
and there is danger of our meeting other steamers, which might
mean a great disaster. In spite of all this, the Sisters and I
slept quietly, reposing in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, who,
through our Superiors, has sent us on this voyage, assuring us
that He would be our Pilot, our Guide, our sure Refuge. At
seven-thirty we left our cabin, but owing to the dampness and
fog we could not remain on deck, so we went to the music-room,
and each one did her own work there. Mother Flora painted a
pretty card for the Captain who was so kind to her. Mother
Albertina copied music and went through some pieces, and I
finished my letter to you, speaking to you, my beloved daughters
of the observance of the Holy Rules which will make you holy
and blessed.

At nine a.m. we went to table for breakfast, but the Captain,
who always goes also when we go, is not with us this morning, as
he has to remain on the bridge. It is always dangerous in these
great fogs. Perhaps he may not even come to lunch, as it is
already mid-day and the fog is as dense as ever. Amongst the
four hundred passengers there is a man by the name of Valdo-
brandi, a tourist by profession, who voyages with an American
Company, and who has made the round of the world. He is a very

London to New York — Angnst, 1902

225

nice person. Having noticed that we eat little, comes every
day to explain the menu to us, and so encourages us to eat every¬
thing. There is also an Italian Doctor called Cucchi; he rather
needs to be comforted by us, as he has suffered very much from
sea-sickness and is very timid. He is travelling for a Bologna
Society of Doctors, and is going to the Tropics to learn about the
diseases in those places. The poor man didn’t eat for three days,
but, encouraged by Mr. Valdobrandi and by us, he is feeling better.

2^th. This morning again we had fog, but it didn’t last long.
The sun soon broke through, and we have a most beautiful day.
The sea is as calm as a lake. Yesterday the fog was obstinate,
to-day it lifted at once, and we could see in this the figure of a
docile soul which allows itself to be overcome by the grace of God,
the Sun of Justice, whilst a rebellious soul resists all the most
beautiful graces, and becomes hard and exposes itself to great
danger. Blessed will you be if you are animated by the spirit of
Obedience, because that precious virtue makes your way sure. In
Obedience all is light, splendour, grace, health, joy and peace.
Love obedience, my daughters. Remember, a true Religious is
always and in everything obedient. She knows no delay, she
never puts off till the morrow what has been commanded to-day,
being always ready for whatsoever is ordered. The truly obedient
soul performs exactly and entirely all that has been commanded.
She does not do her work in part, but entirely and completely.
She does not offer half of the Victim to her Celestial Spouse, but
she offers it whole and entire, and so the whole sacrifice is accept¬
able and rises with a sweet odour to Heaven. It is, indeed, a
heavenly sight to see a Religious obey cheerfully with a spirit of
joy, whilst on the contrary it causes pain to see another who
obeys with laments and difficulties.

The good Religious conforms her judgment perfectly to that of
her Superior. She thinks as her Superior, hence the intellect and
judgment of a good Religious are in all things conformed to the
intellect and judgment of the Superior, as the pious will can bend
the intellect, as Saint Ignatius observes, in things that are not self-
evident. You, my dear daughters, want to become holy and perfect.
Behold the shortest and surest way is to give yourselves cheerfully
to the exercise of obedience. Do not look and consider the qualities.

226 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

gifts and ways of the Superior, otherwise you will exchange the
Divine for the human. See in the Superior only the authority
of God. Blessed will you be if you know how to obtain from
God the true spirit of obedience; to merit such a beautiful grace,
do all in your power to obtain it. Obey promptly and exactly,
not only her who is greater than you, but submit willingly to
your equals and inferiors. When you work, pray, eat, recreate
yourself, do all in the spirit of obedience, trying in all things to
deny your own will, and conforming it to that of your most
amiable Spouse, Who is always looking at you and all you do for
His love, and observing the manner in which you do it. If you
do everything in the spirit of holy obedience, you give new
splendour to even the most ordinary tasks which you perform for
the Community, because of obedience that accompanies every
act is even greater than the work itself.

The great people of the earth have their coats-of-arms, or shields,
which remind them of their illustrious ancestors, or of some of
their glorious deeds, and I would love that the Shield of the
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart should have written on it
very clearly the beautiful and really glorious words which Jesus
said of Himself, '‘Ego quae placita sunt ei facio semper.” Obedi¬
ence is a revealed word, a ray of living light that descends upon
us from the Father of Lights, a manifestation to us of His Divine
Will. God does what He likes with obedient souls; they are the
delight of His most adorable and sweet Heart. To all obedient
hearts God communicates willingly all His lights. His gifts. His
most precious graces. On these He causes to shine the light of
His face, and fills them with happiness and delights of every kind.
You, dear daughters, are Missionaries. You must render your¬
selves capable of gaining many souls to the Heart of Jesus. So
try and acquire the true spirit of obedience, because it is through
such obedient souls that Jesus accomplishes on this earth His
sublime designs and great works. The good Jesus likes to stay
with obedient souls, and guides them with His wisdom. He illum¬
ines them with His light. He comforts them with His grace, and
makes them arbiters of His inheritance. Yes, daughters, she who
is obedient to Jesus and acquires a true spirit of obedience, obtains
that all creatures become obedient to her, and so she conducts
them to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. But I should never finish

London to Nezv York — August^ 1902

227

talking of the holy treasure of obedience that will make you
blessed, so I conclude by exhorting you to recall well the words
of the angelic Saint Thomas, that it is obedience that makes the
Religious, and that of the three Vows it is the first and principal,
for by the vow of poverty we give our goods, by the vow of
chastity our own body, but by the vow of obedience we give our
whole being, which is certainly much more, as the soul with its
powers is by far more excellent and more noble than riches and
the body. Be victorious, my daughters, but in what way? By
l)eing truly obedient, for obedient souls triumph over their enemies.

It is the afternoon of the 28th. The sea looks more beautiful
than ever, and my companions are charmed. Several dolphins
follow the steamer, to our great amusement. Some passengers
asked Mother Albertina to play the piano. This she did and pleased
them very much; they saw that Catholics can be sociable when
occasion presents itself. An English Protestant lady, a great
writer and a contributor to the Chicago Tribune, came to me after¬
wards, and in the course of her conversation, showed a secret desire
to become a Catholic. She remarked that she would go on writing
until the Anglican Church became Catholic again, for England is the
nation which has given the Church more saintly Kings than any
other country. It was very strange to hear her speak in that strain,
but she is an intelligent person, and if she works on the right lines
she will do a great deal of good. She wanted the address of our
House in Rome, so that when she returned she might visit us and
seek some Catholic Priest to instruct her in the Catholic Religion.
If the Sacred Heart would only bless us so much as to give us such
a conversion, the suffering of this voyage would be very little to
endure. To the Sacred Pleart of my Jesus nothing is impossible.
He is the Master of Hearts. He can change them in a moment as
He changed that of Saint Augustine, the great Father and Doctor
of the Church, whose feast we celebrate to-day.

CHAPTER XIV

On tLe Occaiion the inauguration
the iJ-ou6e in 2).
l^ouemLery 1902

Jenuer

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

Denver, Colorado,

\?>th November, 1902.

My dear Daughters,

Yesterday, in the presence of His Lordship, the Bishop of
Denver, a large number of priests, amongst whom were several
Jesuit Fathers, and a select audience, including the flower of the
Italian Colony, the new Mission of this capital was solemnly
inaugurated, and His Lordship blessed the School recently opened
for the education of Italians in this city.

A few months ago. Monsignor Matz, the Bishop of Denver, met
two of our Sisters, and, having grasped a little of the spirit of the
work of our Institute, was desirous of having a foundation of
ours in Denver. He wrote to me at once, and accompanied his
request by such pressing exhortations showing all the good the
Institute could do, the necessity of our work in that country, the
vast field, as he put it, that the Missionaries would find in which
to exercise their zeal, etc., that it was impossible to refuse the offer.

I knew the conditions of the country, which in a few years had
made rapid development, and I realised His Lordship's assertions
were quite true. I had not the heart to refuse him the work of the
Institute when the greater glory of God was in question. After
mature consideration, I consented to comply with the wishes of
His Lordship, and we arrived here two or three weeks ago to
launch the new foundation. The opening took place yesterday,
and was solemnly inaugurated and blessed by the Pastor at whose

229

230

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

desire we had come to Denver. On our arrival in this city, the
Sisters found a vast field of labour. Though our work extends to
every class, without regard to nationality, nevertheless the number
of Italians is very great, and this renders our Mission all the more
necessary. A School is needed for our children, in order to prevent
them from going to the public schools, where they do not receive
religious instruction, this being given only in the parochial schools.
Apart from the children, the adults think only of gaining their
living, and forget all about their souls. There are to be found
here young people, up to thirty years of age, who have not made
their First Communion yet. There are marriages which have not
been blessed by the priest, children not baptized. In the moun¬
tains, hundreds of workmen are to be found oppressed by work,
living far from the church, where Mass is seldom celebrated,
who have not approached the Sacraments for many years; but
they are in such good dispositions that they only need encourage¬
ment, and if we go to them with Christ's charity, which is all to
all, they will, as good sheep, return to God and listen with docility
to the voice that calls.

It will not be long before the Sisters will have the pleasure of
preparing for the beautiful and consoling functions which are
enjoyed in Louisiana and in other States, where they teach the
Catechism to the poor peasants and prepare them for Holy Com¬
munion, which perhaps they have not received for more than
fifty years. Here also they will prepare in a small hut, or some¬
times under a tree, an Altar, the canopy of which is the sky and
the walls of which are the beauties of nature. Here, in the midst
of this poverty, Jesus, docile to the word of the priest, descends
into the hearts of these poor people, whom He loves so much.
At other times it is the Bishop himself who, in this immense
temple of nature, having for his throne the trunk of a tree, for
a carpet the green moss of the mountains, or the green grass wet
with dew, administers the Sacrament of Confirmation to his
children, on whom from Heaven God looks with complacency.

To begin our work, we opened a School at once, to which two
hundred children came the very first day. Yesterday we had the
pleasure of having it blessed by our worthy Bishop of Denver.
He is a man after God's own Heart, full of charity, zeal and
sacrifice, for the good of the sheep entrusted to his care. The

Inatigiiration in Denver — November, 1902

231

most Sacred Heart of Jesus has inspired him with such confidence
in the work of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and with so
much affection for them, that we feel we have a father in him, one
who will help us and second our efforts, and offer us new fields in
which to do good.

Like a good father, he himself desired to bless our children, so
we had to prepare a reception for His Lordship. You may imagine
how happy we were to offer our tribute of gratitude to our good
Bishop. Everything seemed easy, despite the shortness of time
at our disposal, the difficulty of polishing, as it were, those little
mountain stones, our children, who certainly possess hidden gems
of the best quality, though at present they are rather rough and
unpolished. We must admit, however, that they surprised us by
their brightness, docility, good nature and lovely simplicity. The
children worked a whole week with might and main and with
growing anxiety as the day drew near.

It was lovely yesterday morning to see them arrive from all
parts, notwithstanding the snow, on which, like a beautiful white
mantle, the sun's rays sparkled and covered the earth. They
were dressed in white, and they took their places in the centre
of the old church, which is now converted into a schoolhouse. The
two side aisles were crowded with their parents. Just in the
centre was erected a stage, artistically adorned with the Papal
colours, and in the midst of which hung the portrait of our
immortal Pontiff. How could he be missing from our gatherings
and festivals? It is he who protects our Institute so much, who
loves us so much, and who renders our work fruitful by his bless¬
ings, and in whose name and at whose command I feel encouraged
to undertake any work, assured that, leaning on the rock of the
Vatican, I have nothing to fear, but, on the contrary, have in
that protection a pledge of celestial favours.

Now this sight was quite new to the Italians of this city, and
one could perceive the purest joy in their countenances, as well
as in that of the Rector, who moved about amongst his parishioners
with his face lit up with smiles. The good Jesuit Fathers Pantanella
and Gubitosi, who help so much in this Mission, were equally
delighted as well as the poor parents, who underneath a modest
smile hid the pride they felt as they watched their children file
out in order to the music of a march and take their places with a

232 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

discipline that equalled that of our other Schools which have been
long established. The hall presented a beautiful and consoling
sight, which struck me as being the first-fruits of a Mission which
will develop under the fructifying patronage of the Most Sacred
Heart of Jesus.

A few minutes after ten a.m. the bell announced that the Bishop
was approaching the School from our House, which in his kindness
he had visited in order to see me. In a few minutes the carriage
drove to the School, where the good Bishop, accompanied by a
number of priests, entered the hall. With quick step, and smiling
all over with kindness, he saluted the children and their parents
in their mother-tongue, our Italian language, which he speaks
well. He also speaks English, German, Spanish and French.
The children, who had been taught to make a profound curtsy
to their Bishop, as was becoming in the case of one in his high
position, understood from his sweet and familiar salutation that
he was indeed a father among them, and so they greeted him with
great enthusiasm. As he confessed afterwards, the good Prelate
was greatly surprised to see so many children gathered under the
protecting wings of our Holy Mother the Church. His heart was
filled with joy, and, as he said, he understood the sentiments of
Jesus better on an occasion like that, for when Our Lord was
surrounded by children. He spoke these words, ‘‘Let little children
come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.”

He took the above words as the text of his address, which he
delivered after the children had finished their concert, which they
performed quite nicely, considering the short space of time the
School had been opened. It was in the course of his address that
this great Prelate revealed the goodness of his heart and the
uncommon mental gifts with which he is adorned. Speaking to
the Italians present, he showed them the necessity of giving a
Catholic education to their children, of the advantages imparted
to their children by learning, not only the language of the country,
but the mother-tongue of their parents—the sweet Italian lan¬
guage. He spoke of the necessity of learning different languages
in this country, where there are people of so many nationalities, and
where a man is, according to the saying of a celebrated Jesuit, as
many times a man as the number of the languages he speaks. He
spoke highly of our beloved Italy, its genius, its art, its culture.

Inauguration in Denver — November, 1902

233

He praised the work of the Italians in the Eastern States, referring
to their strong constitution and the energy with which they work
and how much the world expects from them. He spoke words of
encouragement to the children, praised their behaviour, their sing¬
ing, their recitations, and, like a good Father, exhorted them to
be good. For the Rector he had words of deep appreciation,
encouraging him to build a new School at once. If his prophecy
comes true, we shall, before the end of the scholastic year, have
double the number of children. To the Sisters he spoke kind
words, as to children devoted and grateful to him. He assured
them, as he did at the start, that they would have an immense
field of work. He assured them also of his interest in them, and
promised that he would always assist them. And, in truth, I
believe that the Institute has really found in the person of Mon¬
signor Matz not only a good father, but also a zealous co-worker
who will always lend his aid and facilitate and increase opportuni¬
ties for us to work for the good of our neighbours. The School has
now begun its regular course, and the Sisters are also working
courageously in the neighboring towns.

The diocese of Denver comprises a large territory, being the
only one in Colorado. The area of this State exceeds that of
Italy. One-third of the land is a plain, whilst two-thirds comprise
the mountainous regions of the Rocky Mountains. This is a high
chain of mountains, the highest peaks of which are 14,500 feet
high. As the name explains, these mountains are immense masses
of rock, coloured with the most beautiful tints of the rainbow.
They present a most enchanting view, and form one of the great
natural beauties of the United States. If one were to see this
scene painted, those enormous masses that appear to hang by
a thread, with the railway cars running zig-zag between the folds
of the mountains up to the highest peaks, and then precipitating
themselves down into the valleys below, and running through
the gorges called canons, whose walls are inaccessible, and, because
of their marble-like, colours and beautiful forms seem like an
enchanted castle, one would imagine the whole thing was simply
a creation of the painter's brush. These surprising shades of
colour are formed by the various elements of which the mountains
are composed. Every kind of metal, amongst which gold, silver.

234

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

tin and lead abound, is found here. The mines form almost the
exclusive industry of this part of the State.

In these deep caves far away from the light of the sun, absorbed
in hard work, immersed sometimes in the boiling water which
emerges from the mineral springs that abound here, many thou¬
sands of miners spend their lives. Whilst the Companies amass
millions, the greater part of the miners work hard, and, by inde¬
fatigable digging, seek a precious vein which may prove a fortune
for themselves and family. Often, after many years of hard labour,
they receive a very small reward by way of compensation for their
strenuous efforts. At times when fortunate enough to find a
vein (which is found among the rocks of granite and quartz in
the crevices produced by volcanic eruptions, and by which the
volatile metal is transformed, having been deposited by the work
of Nature in incalculable far distant ages), the ways and means
are wanting with which to develop it, and so the poor men remain
as if they had found nothing, and as if they were just beginning
their task. They live, however, absorbed and intent on gaining
worldly goods, forgetting the good God.

They are fortunate in those villages where the priest goes once
a month to celebrate Holy Mass. In the meanwhile there is a
spiritual famine, and you may imagine how great is the need of
spiritual help. Our Sisters have begun their rounds. They have
descended nine hundred feet into the mines, being lowered in a
cage hardly large enough to contain them into a shaft about only
one square metre wide, and cut obliquely in the rock. The com¬
pressed air introduced into the mines makes respiration possible.
They have also walked at times several kilometres through narrow
tunnels at the same depth, speaking a word of comfort to these
poor creatures and reminding them of the eternal truths. It is
not difficult to touch on the subject of hell as they walk through
these dark tunnels where breathing is difficult, where the only
available light is that of a few tallow candles, a pale idea, it is
true, but still very expressive of the eternal darkness.

The Sisters, who are performing this Mission for the good of
others, find it also advantageous to themselves, for they realise
what the world does for temporal gain, and the thought of this
fills them with greater zeal to work for the glory of the Sacred
Heart and the diffusion of our Holy Religion. To work for the

235

Inauguration in Denver — November, 1902

extension of the Kingdom of God on this earth, there is no necessity
to go in search of veins of gold, for the smallest act sanctified by
a pure intention, and in our case by Holy Obedience and performed
according to the spirit of our Institute, is the purest gold, and
deposited where thieves cannot steal. Oh, how fortunate are the
souls who are called by God to religion! Let us love our vocation
with our whole heart. Let us thank God constantly for having
conferred upon us so great a gift, working always with zeal in
whatever field obedience places us, not counting our sacrifices,
bearing in mind that we do very little, and that on the great Day
we shall know the truth of the words of Jesus Christ, that
‘‘the children of darkness are more prudent than the children of
light.^’

Returning to what I was saying, the passion for gold which
absorbs so many lives and ruins so many souls, has, in this State,
rather contributed to the benefit of the inhabitants of the boundary
State of Utah. They are for the greater part Mormons, a sect
which practices polygamy. Not tolerated in the other States, they
migrated to Utah. Providence, who never fails its children, moved
by the prayers of the good offered in behalf of these Mormons, dis¬
posed that the latter should be drawn by the prospects of gain in
the mines of Colorado, which are considered richer than those of
California. Hence many of these Mormons have left their own
State and abandoned their sect. The laws of the United States
do not countenance, but rather condemn, the Mormons, and they
are precluded from the higher offices of the State. So much so,
that when an attempt was made to place one of them in one of
the highest offices of the State, a general outcry of indignation
arose, especially among the women, who revolted against such a
degradation, regarding the whole thing as a violation of the most
sacred rights of womanhood secured them by Christianity.

He who is faithful to God is faithful to his country and to his
family, and the more the fear of God animates the citizens of a
country, the greater and the more respected will the nation itself
be. Moreover, as it is said that nations are formed on the knees
of the mother, it follows that the more the mother is venerated
in the family, and the more she herself conforms her conduct to
that sublime model that we have in Her, who, repairing the faults
of Eve, raised the status of humanity, so much the greater will

236 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

be those future generations who will form the glory and the pros¬
perity of their country. These principles, my dear daughters, you
should teach in your Schools, because, as educators, you must
not only form good Christians, but good citizens for the State,
which we wish to be great and respected.

And here I address myself not only to you, but also to the good
young ladies in Rome who are studying in our College, and who
will shortly be called to educate others. Make them understand
what the Church and Society expect of them.

The world is poisoned with erroneous theories, and needs to
be taught sane doctrines, but it is difficult to straighten what has
become crooked. It is in your hands to form new generations, to
lead them in the right direction, to instil into them those principles
which are the seed of good works, though for the moment they
may seem hidden. The impressions of childhood are never
obliterated. We shall be indebted to you, if the youth whom
you educate, when grown up, become the pride of the family, of
Society, of the State, and, especially, the honour and support of
our Holy Faith. I have had already great consolations among
the Alumnae of Rome, and I am expecting to receive many more,
being convinced that these good young ladies are doing good and
will continue to do so. The great amount of work I have found
in the Western State will prolong my stay longer than I had ex¬
pected. It is not time lost, however, so accompany me with your
prayers and sacrifices, so that all our works may prosper to the
greater glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. For if the whole
world is obliged to love and make reparation to this loving Heart,
Which beats only with love for us, how much more so should the
Missionary, who bears His name, and who, with the love of
predilection, has been chosen to imitate Him and to promote His
interests, be permeated with the spirit of love and reparation.
We all know the greatness of our vocation. Let us be careful
not to make ourselves unworthy of it by putting a limit to our
love, to our sacrifices for Jesus, for the Missionary should never
say, “I have done enough.’’ Nor ever shrink from difficulties,
for not being able to do it of herself, the Missionary can, never¬
theless, do all in Jesus, for she has her motto, ‘'Tutto posso in
Colui che mi conforta.” Grow more and more, day by day, in
virtue, always according to the spirit of the Institute, and may

Ijiaiigiiration in Denver — November, 1902

237

God’s blessing descend upon you and may you increase in numbers,
for the crops are abundant, the harvest is great, but the reapers
are few. The days fly, souls are being lost. Death is approaching
more quickly than we realize, and then the time for work is over.

Work, then, while you have time. Work with energy, and
especially with the spirit of sacrifice, for it is this that forms the
true Missionary. This storms the Heart of Jesus, and draws from
It, as it were, the most precious graces for those souls who are
the hardest and the most obstinate in resisting His love. Work
with an apostolic spirit which offers everything, actions, prayers
and sacrifices for the conversion of souls. Seek amongst your
acquaintances, above all, among those who wish to do some good
for the glory of God, souls who will co-operate with us and give
material help for our Missions. Saint Paul, in one of his letters
to the Philippians, speaks of his predilection towards those who
are generous and help with their offerings, and he calls them co¬
workers of the Gospel. How many beautiful souls there are in
the world whose hearts are filled with zeal and with the love of
God, and who are distressed at the thought of so many about to
be lost. They wish to do something to save souls. Not being
able, on account of their position, to consecrate themselves to
this great Apostolic work, they timidly keep repeating to them¬
selves, ‘'Oh, if I could do something for those souls,” and they
proceed no further. Teach them that, without leaving or neglect¬
ing the obligations of their state or country, they can become
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and that they will find them¬
selves among the number of those who enter Heaven followed by
a number of souls saved by them. But how? you will ask.

The first condition is prayer. Saint Teresa helped the great
apostle of the Indies, Saint Francis Xavier, by praying and
sacrificing herself in the solitude of her cell. The second condition
is to help the Missions entrusted to the Institute by offerings.
God’s judgments are very different from the judgments of the
world. The world judges from appearance, and gives honour and
glory to those who do not merit them. God sees everything, even
our most sacred thoughts, and knows how to trace the origin of
that small offering which did so much good, and which therefore
may have been the first and real author of the good done by the
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in far-distant lands. What is

238

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

given to the Missionary is given to God, because given for the
benefit of the poor and the abandoned. If it is sweet to deprive
oneself in order to give, how much more consoling, is it not, to
give to God from Whom we have received everything? He will
not allow Himself to be outdone in generosity. He who is so good
and magnificent! Banks fail, thieves steal, the moth destroys,
storms ruin possessions, but the money given to God is placed in
the Divine Treasury, where it repays a hundredfold.

Continue, my dear daughters, to procure the greater glory of
the Sacred Heart, in which I leave you, so that He may inflame
you with His Divine and Holy Love.

Yours most affectionately in Jesus Christ,

Frances Saverio Cabrini.

CHAPTER XV

jCetter to the Students
cfeackers Gollege in
TTLag, igojf

of the
[Rome

My dear young Ladies :

I hasten, before the close* of the scholastic term and before you
leave for your homes, to thank you for your very welcome letters
of Christmas and Easter, which you wrote me after the Retreat
you made during the carnival season. It is, as you already know,
a great pleasure for me to learn that you are progressing in your
studies, in your designs for the future and in your aspirations.
It is true that now and then the Reverend Mother informs me as
to your good conduct, but it is a greater pleasure for me to read
in your own words, and, if I may say so, between the lines, of the
workings of grace in your souls, and to contemplate how the
precious seeds of virtue sown in your souls, developing into grace¬
ful little plants, will one day grow to a perfect height, and have
their boughs weighed down under a load of precious fruits. This
great interest I have in you is a natural outcome of the singular
affection I bear you as the favourite children of a great family
which the Sacred Heart has confided to my care. I regard you,
not so much as soil, whereon, with my dear Sisters, I strive to
implant a Christian education, but rather do I consider you as
co-workers, destined one day to associate your lives with ours in
the great enterprise of the Salvation of Souls.

How great, noble, exalted, is the mission you are called to
accomplish in this world! To you. Our Divine Lord addressed
the words He spoke to His Apostles one day, 'T have chosen you
so that you will bear fruit and that your fruit will remain.” Reflect
a little with me on the predilection of God for you in this call,
‘T have chosen you,” not ‘‘you have chosen Me.” In fact. He
did not wish that during your studies you should be exposed to

239

240

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

the poisonous atmosphere of the world. He has drawn you into
His own House, so that you could breathe into your souls its
salubrious atmosphere. There you prepare yourselves for the
mission you are to fulfil in Society. To many of you, already,
we may say, despite our great regret at parting from you, “Go
and bear fruit,’^ for you are already fortified against the world’s
dangers by the solid instruction you have received. But what
fruit will you bear? However small your experience is of the
world, still you see that the multitude is insensible, forgetting
God. But how much good cannot a wise teacher do to repair
this, the greatest of evils, if to her mental culture and her intellec¬
tual gifts she adds that of a soul solidly founded and frankly
Christian and religious. She knows as the immortal and lamented
Pontiff Leo XIIL, said, that we cannot renew Solomon’s judgment
on the child by the cruel and unjust separation of the intellect
and the will. She knows that while she cultivates her mind, she
is bound to direct her will at acquiring virtue to obtain the last
end. She knows that those who have not received in their early
years the impressions of Religion, grow up without having even
the slightest idea of those high truths which alone can awaken in
them the love of virtue and the control of the passions. She then
makes her sweet influence felt in the school, aided by the grace
of the Holy Ghost, and silently mould those young hearts which,
soft as wax, are ready to receive impressions. Here you per¬
ceive the great responsibility of those who neglect their duty,
for it is difficult to eradicate these early impressions. This is the
fruit which you are called upon to bring forth in the Church, with
this difference, however, that whilst a simple teacher has only to
instruct her class of children, you have the responsibility of
educating the future teachers, and consequently have a wider field
wherein to sow your seed, which will thus spread more rapidly
and bear more fruit. As such you are associated with the great
work of the Christian Apostolate. Thus you enter the ranks of
those generous champions who at the command of our great Leader
and His Vicar on earth, fight bravely to restore the world to Christ.

How far the world is from Him who is the Way, the Truth
and the Life, is better understood by one who has to travel so
to speak, from one end of the world to the other.

A few weeks ago I was at Seattle, the capital of the State of

Letter to the Ahimnae of Rome — May, 1904

241

Washington, in the extreme west, where we opened a Mission.
This city, recently built on Puget Sound, with all the comforts
of its sister cities, has such a charming position that it might be
called the garden of the United States. Indeed, here it is distin¬
guished by the name of Queen City. It might very well also be
called the City of Twenty Hills—the town, in fact, does spread over
twenty hills. A most beautiful panorama crowns it. Whilst the
snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains on one side, and the
Olympic Mountains on the other, remind us of the North Pole,
the green hills bathed by the sea are perfumed with lemon and
orange blossoms and rich with splendid vegetation. In February
we actually gather strawberries. It is a continual spring, though
we are fifty degrees north latitude; and this is due to a warm
stream that comes from Japan. The darkgreen background of the
virgin forests furnishes excellent building wood in abundance.

This town reminds one very much of Southern Italy, in its
nature so beautiful and fertile, whilst it presents a good field of
work for the Missionary. We found Italians who for the last forty
or fifty years have not seen a church. They do not want to go
to the English speaking churches which they believe to be
Protestant. Our first care was to build a small, simple church, just
big enough to contain them all; it is close to our School and
Orphanage, which are built on a hill. On the slopes and valleys
beneath are scattered the houses of the Italians. At the beginning
we had no bell, so the Sisters used to go in twos to call them from
the different hills. These poor people would answer the call
and follow the good Sisters who lead them to the church. When
the first signal is given of the service, they all come running to
the church, so much so, that when in Lent they come for the
Stations of the Cross, some of them often have time to make the
Stations three times over before the service actually begins.
Though these Italians have been so many years away from God,
still I found the Faith well rooted in them, even in their very
bones, as it were, though sometimes latent. Therefore, by means
of a little kindness and courtesy it is easy to bring them back to
God. It is very touching to see men of advanced years cry with
emotion at seeing an Italian church in which they hear the Word
of God in their mother-tongue, and where they are reminded of
the old country, so long left, and the ever-dear impressions of

242

Tf'avels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

childhood—the steeples, the squares, the feasts, the solemn pro¬
cessions in their native land. I expect much from this Mission.

During my sojourn in Seattle I was asked to open a Mission in
Alaska. You know this region from the description you have read,
probably, but it is much more interesting when you hear about it
from people who have lived there. This peninsula is not far
from the State of Washington. From Seattle our Italians em¬
bark for Alaska in search of gold, which they say is found there;
an expectation which, though it has proved fatal to some, still
continues to deceive others. The natives of Alaska are supposed
to have come from Lapland. I should think it will be very
interesting for the Sisters who are going there to visit their
igloos. Their system of building is very simple. They need no
architects or masons. With a few planks of wood which the
sea waves, guided by the Hand of God, throw up in quantities on
the coast of a country where there is perpetual snow and ice, these
Esquimaux build their roofs and walls, which are supported against
the side of the mountain. Then they pour water over the huts,
and this freezes at once. This operation is repeated until the
walls attain a thickness that renders them inaccessible, even to
icy winds. The Esquimaux pass their lives in these huts, which
are more like dens than houses, and they enter them by crawling
through a low narrow opening. They stretch themselves out on
skins, in which they dress themselves, and they oil their bodies
against the cold.

In the summer, at ten p.m., the sun is still shining, and in
winter, at three p.m., it is dark night. The sky often favours
them with the meteoric display that appears at the Pole. Now
and then, by a mirage similar to that seen in the African desert,
one sees suspended in the air an entire city, which is supposed to
be the far-away city of Petersbourg. Their manner of taking food
is very strange. If you are invited by some great personage, such
as the head of a tribe, you must not imagine you are going to eat
a piece of salmon or roast cod fish, of which these coasts abound.
In front of the head of the family you see two plates, one with
the dressed meats and the other empty. Now his work begins,
and this must be very hard, for he chews all the food which is
given to the guests. When this has been done, it is placed on
plates and handed round accordingly. This ceremony over, all

243

Letter to the Ahimnae of Rome — May, 1904

the guests eat of this well-prepared dish. This story was told me
by a Jesuit who passed many years there. This holy Religious
added that this was not the worst thing done there.

The white people, however, have begun to build houses and
villages there, so if any of you wish to join the Sisters who are
going there, you need not live in ice-huts. Communication with
other countries is interrupted for long periods. Only twice during
the winter is the postman, dressed in skins and shod in iron-bound
boots, seen making his way with difficulty along the road covered
with eternal ice. The letters are sewn up in his coat, as it is too
cold for him to have his hands exposed. We see now what
sacrifices are made to get gold, or to make some earthly gain—
efforts which often fail. Is it not right that the Missionary should
remember that in these far-off countries there are souls to be
saved, and that she should be ready to sacrifice herself for love of
them? And is it not the duty of all who love God and His glory,
to pray and to offer some sacrifice for those souls who have been
bought by the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ?

The journey from Seattle to Denver is very interesting. One
passes through cities all so different from one another. In Utah
I saw the lakes and the mountains of salt of a transparent milk
colour. But more interesting still is it to see the Indian Reserves.
The territories where the United States Government confines the
Indians are called Indian Reserves, as the Indians are not allowed
to live with the whites. They are allowed in the towns now and
then to sell their merchandise.

Some time ago, when hatred still existed between the Red man
and the White, only one Indian woman, Angelina by name, was
allowed to enter the city of Seattle, and I will tell you why.
Amongst the many idols that the Indians adore, some of them
have truly repugnant appearances. Now it happened that the
white men carried off one of these, and it still stands in a square
of Seattle. This idol represented a deformed gnome, and, with
other smaller monsters, formed a column. The Indians were so
exasperated that they swore to avenge the profanation and to
vindicate the honour of their idol by the destruction of the town.
But Angelina was a sweet, good-hearted woman, and did not
want so much blood shed. So, crossing mountains and valleys
and risking other dangers, she entered the city at night. The

244

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

white men, having been warned, were thus prepared to defend
themselves against the attack of the Indians. So they never
forgot the kindness of Angelina. She was therefore allowed the
privilege of going into the town at any time, and of lodging at
any hotel at the Government’s expense. She was called the
Queen of the Queen City. It seems a small thing to us, but to
the Indians it was quite a big affair, of which even to-day they
are proud. I have passed near the Reserve, called Coeur d’Alene,
because of the ferocious nature of this tribe. Though they retain
a few of their old habits, they are now more civilized owing to
the progress of religion, especially through the Apostolate of the
Jesuit Fathers. There is much to be done yet, for there are still
many ridiculous and shameful superstitions amongst them. When
an Indian dies, all the friends are called to weep over the corpse,
whether they want to or not. They even have to chant their
grief in a more or less monotonous strain like this: *‘You were
very good, oh, oh, oh, you had a lovely house, ah, ah, ah.” You
may imagine what the rest of the chant is like, and continued
throughout the dead of night. When the morning dawns, the
Chief arrives, and they beg him to tell them if the deceased has
gone to heaven or to hell. Then he commands them to fetch
him a bowl of bread and water. They hold the strange belief
that while the corpse is on earth it needs nothing, but if it goes
to hell, it has to be provided with bread and water, as these
items are not to be found in hell. If the dead is destined for
heaven, it needs nothing, so it does not return to take bread and
water. Naturally, the deceased does not return for its bread and
water, consequently the tribe concludes it has gone to heaven,
and makes merry over it, partaking of a great banquet. Poor
souls 1 These are they for whom Christ shed so much Blood, who
so much grieved His Heart in His sorrowful agony when He saw,
in all the horror of His imminent Passion, the uselessness of His
agony for so many souls. Oh, how bitter to the Sacred Heart
was such a thought! How painful those stripes, thorns and nails
of the Cross 1 If it were only possible for us to console the Divine
Heart, to comfort Him, and to become victims for the salvation of
souls that cost such a dear price! Such comfort we can give to
Jesus. All of us can devote ourselves to this enterprise by means
of prayer. Let us be generous in our little sacrifices to Our Lord

Letter to the Alumnae of Rome — May, 1904

245

for the success of Catholic Missions. Perhaps, one day, when we
ourselves are gathered into the Eternal Tabernacle, w’e shall meet
many souls who will tell us that they owe their eternal happiness
to us.

The Indian woman, as in all those nations which have not
received the light of faith, has to work while the man quietly
smokes his pipe. The poor woman and mother of many little ones,
who are too small to stand, is forced to tie her offspring round
her waist in a sack, and in this unconventional way has to do
her washing. If the baby cries, she moves it with a shrug of
her shoulders and thus quiets it. This is the way the Indian baby
is fondled.

See how grateful we should be to Christianity, which has raised
the dignity of woman, re-establishing her rights, unknown to the
pagan nations. Until Mary Immaculate, the Woman by excellence,
foretold by the prophets, sighed for by the patriarchs, desired by
the people. Dawn of the Sun of Justice, had appeared on earth—
what was woman?

But Mary appeared, this new Eve, true Mother of the Living,
elected by God to be the Co-Redemptrix of the human race, and a
new era arose for woman. She is no longer a slave, but equal
to man; no longer a servant, but mistress within her domestic
walls; no longer the object of disdain and contempt, but raised
to the dignity of Mother and Educator, on whose knee generations
are built up.

All this we owe to Mary, and in the midst of the tenderness that
naturally arises in our hearts for such a pious, amiable, good and
condescending Mother, ever ready to listen to our prayers, ever
ready to come to our aid, we must not forget what Christian
society owes to her, and, consequently, what our obligations are
to her.

Mary derives all her greatness from Jesus. If it was her boast
that she became the Mother of the Redeemer, to her also, as the
Holy Father has said, was consigned the office of guarding and
preparing the Victim of the human race. Mary was the Mother
of Jesus, not only in the joy of Bethlehem, but also on Calvary,
where she not only contemplated the cruel spectacle, but rejoiced
at seeing her Son offered for the redemption of mankind. Thus
did she most worthily merit to become the Co-Redemptrix. If,

246

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

then, we wish to reach the height of the importance of our Mission,
let us banish all vanity and levity, and remember that we shall
only be true women, when, by the discharge of the principal duties
that are imposed upon us, we become the true educators of society,
Angels of the family and faithful imitators of Mary Immaculate.
But what have you to do to imitate her? I should love you to
look upon your Morning Star, Mary, and become so many copies
of Mary Immaculate. Cast an interior glance on your Mother,
and, if your eyes cannot sustain the vivid light that radiates from
Her, listen to what St. Anselm says of her: ‘"Mary was docile,
spoke little; she was always composed, was never heard laughing
aloud, nor ruffled or disturbed; she persevered in the reading of the
Sacred Scriptures, in mortification and in the works of mercy.^’

Saint Ambrose says: ‘‘Her movement was not indolent, her
walk not too quick, her voice not affected or sharp; the composure
of her person showed the beauty and harmony of her interior. It
was a wonderful spectacle to see with what promptness and dili¬
gence she performed her domestic duties, to which she applied her¬
self with great solicitude, but always with tranquility and great
peace. Her forehead was serene, and a modesty more celestial than
terrestrial pervaded her every movement. Her words were few and
always dignified, prudent and joyful. In Mary, all and everything
was well regulated.*'

Holy Church in her earliest days appeared to be all concentrated
in Mary, all hearts turned to her, all hopes after Jesus were placed
in her. She was the Ark animated by God that contained the
Law of the New Alliance, the living Rule of the precepts and
counsels of Jesus Christ, the treasure of the wisdom and knowledge
of God.

The difficulties of the primitive Church are just the same after
twenty centuries, and it is not to be wondered at, for Christ has
always been the sign of contradiction. And so it must be with
His Spouse, the Church, in this vale of misery and tears. Do not
fear difficulties. Let us raise our eyes to our Heavenly Star. Let
us call upon Mary. She is to us what she was to the Apostles and
first Christians. Let us honour this Immaculate Dove, and let us
trust her with unlimited trust. The eyes of her soul and mind
are turned tov/ards us. Her eyes are sharper and more penetrating
than those of the prophets and seers of Judah, more perfect than

247

Letter to the Alumnae of Rome — May, 1904

those of the Ecstatic of Patmos, higher than the angelic hierarchies.
How admirable is Mary Immaculate! Let us abandon ourselves
into her hands. She is, I repeat, our august Queen and Mother.
Under her mantle we shall be safe.

At Denver I found the School, which I opened only a year ago,
quite flourishing. The cheerful predictions made by the good
Bishop on that occasion have been succeeded by realisation, and
now this zealous pastor wants us to found an Orphanage for Italian
orphans, who are very numerous in Colorado, owing to the disas¬
ters that befall the poor miners.

In two days I made a rapid journey from the capital of Colorado
through Texas, to Louisiana. Even here what beauties of nature
are visible—a pale image of Him Who is the Eternal Beauty, and
Who, to testify His predilection for us, has willed to spread them
over the earth.

For hours we ran through very narrow chasms, called
'‘canons,’’ which are renowned all the world over. They consist
of perpendicular walls of inaccessible height which seem to
touch the sky, whilst below the river flows in zig-zag fashion,
alternately impetuous and calm, reflecting in its pure water of
variegated colours the most wonderful rocks I have ever seen.
It is impossible to describe them. A brush that attempted to
paint them in all their reality would be considered bold. These
rocks do really excite one’s wonder; they even change colour at
different times of the day, and assume colours and tints that even
the most skilled artist could not hope to reproduce. They are
the work of the Immortal Artist, Whose existence men dare to
deny and to forget while the powerful and wonderful works of
His hands speak so eloquently.

The immense plains of Texas, the greater part of which, owing
to the rapid extension of the State, is uninhabited, are most fertile,
rich in vegetation and suitable for every kind of cultivation.
These virgin lands are of a reddish colour, full of life and promise,
and seem to await our Italian emigrants, who go more willingly
to the populous States of the north, whereas here, ease and a life
more like £hat in Italy awaits them. There are some Italian
colonies already, especially in Louisiana, where they are employed
in the cultivation of cotton, rice and sugar, whilst on the outskirts
of New Orleans they gain a livelihood by the cultivation of

248

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

vegetables. In the latter town there are about thirty thousand
Italians. You can imagine, then, whether you have not much
work to do. The Schools hold seven hundred children, and, as
our houses had not sufficient room, the Archbishop made us a
present of another a few weeks ago. But I must think of the
orphans, for they are increasing in number. I am engaged on this
work at present. When I have finished here, I shall return to
Colorado for a little while. Then I shall go on to Chicago, and
from there to New York, to embark for Italy.

To my regret, I shall not find you at Rome on my return, for
by the time you have received this you will already have entered
on your exams, and these will be succeeded by the holidays, which
will be for some of you the end of your scholastic studies. So
this is a very busy time. But you have done your best. You
have studied with diligence, so be calm and quiet and you will do
even better. Have confidence in God and Our Lady, and they
will help you to pass with honours. I wish you all the fullest
success. You deserve to be crowned with success, for you are
very good and of great promise. It is unnecessary for me to tell
you to pray, as I know you do so, and that you pray from your
heart. This consoles me very much, because prayer is the weapon
which will not only defend you, but will help you at the present
and throughout your life. It is the key of the celestial treasures,
it is the channel through which grace comes to you. As long as
you pray, you will be safe. Blessed Canisius says: “He who
prays is on the road to Heaven.'’ Newer forget this shield, this
powerful weapon, which will secure for you ultimate victory. In
great success, pray, and you will take your success moderately, for
pride comes before a fall. In defeat, pray also, and trust will
return and you will become strong with the strength of God.

Pray for yourselves, for those entrusted to your care, for the
world, for the Church. Make a practice of prayer, and if you
reach that degree of sweetness of prayer which is found in intimate
converse with God, you will never have discomfort or despair.
Dark clouds will not trouble for long the serenity of your
souls.

Obey the precepts of Jesus Christ. Pray, and pray always, and
God will do His part in you, and will fulfil His promises. “Ask,
and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall

Letter to the Ahimnae of Rome — May, 1904

249

be opened unto you” And now, good-bye, my dear children.
I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you, but when you come to
Rome you must visit the Sisters, and then I shall have the pleasure
of congratulating you on the Diplomas you have obtained and
the progress you have made in knowledge and virtue. To those
who will return after the holidays, let me say a heartfelt “Au
Revoir,’’ and to the others whom I see leaving us I say regretfully,
though with confidence, the words of Our Divine Saviour, which
are full of wisdom: ‘‘Go and bear fruit, and your fruit shall
remain.’' May the Sacred Heart of Jesus bless you in all the
vicissitudes of life. May the Divine Heart be for you always the
door of salvation in which is found shelter, help and comfort. May
the Mantle of Mary shelter you all. May she clothe you with her
virtues, keep you under the shadow of her protection. I, seeing
you entrusted to Jesus and Mary, shall fear nothing, but shall
implore the blessing of Heaven upon you.

Yours most affectionately in Corde Jesu,

Nezv Orleans,

May 1904.

Frances Saverio Cabrini.

CHAPTER XVI

jCetter to the Students of the
ofeackers Gollege, (K ome
TfLagy igo^

My dear Children,

Several times I have sat down at my table to write to you,
and, particularly, two months ago, when I received your letters
which spoke of the Retreat you had made at the end of the carnival
season. I intended to congratulate you on the expression of your
good will to lay aside the futile, and oftentimes bitter, amusements
of the world, and to give up your souls and faculties to the con¬
sideration of heavenly things. After those days of recollection,
you opened the second half of the scholastic year which terminates
with the fear of the examinations. I call it fear, for it is really
so, as the thought of these examinations conjures up such colossal
forms which develop fear.

My work for the last few months has so much increased, that
I have not had a spare moment of time to write to anyone. Your
Easter wishes awoke me to the fact that I had not even answered
your other letters, so, in order not to be like the statue of Saint
Philip that is always going to move but never moves, I must
answer your letters at once.

I wish I had the gift of your style, so that I could express myself
in such kind and elegant language as comes from you, but as I
know that it is the heart that dictates your sentiments, so it is my
heart that thanks you and blesses you, only as the heart of a
mother can. You know well that you form a favourite portion of
the great family that the Sacred Heart has given me, and I have
a special concern for your welfare and pray for you most fervently.

You ask me to pray for your examinations, and I shall do so

251

252 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

willingly. I know the Sacred Heart and Our Lady will obtain
for you the grace to pass with credit.

From you I ask two things: first, continue to pray with
fervour, as you have done so far. God alone has put into the
mind of man this Divine spark of intelligence. The poet, the
artist, the scientist, all owe to God the genius that makes them
great, and the Church, amongst the glorious titles she gives to
the Holy Ghost, calls Him the Spirit of Wisdom and of Intellect.
It is meet, therefore, that we should draw water from the source,
and so, after having worked on our part and studied assiduously,
we must have recourse to Our Lord and expect from Him memory,
intelligence and success. The celebrated Cardinal Ximenes used
to place himself at the foot of the Crucifix when there were great
questions of State in hand. When asked by his Ministers why he
did so, he answered, "'To pray is to rule.’’ Pray, then, but not
at great length, for you have no time except for prayer with
fervour. The world of to-day is going back to paganism, and,
in spite of its gigantic progress in science and commerce, has
forgotten prayer, and hardly recognizes it any longer. And that
has come about because, with pagan sentiments, man makes a
god of himself and of creatures, and loses the idea of the relations
that exist between himself and God. Our good God, who, as the
child recites in the catechism, has created Heaven and earth, is
almost banished from the world—there is no place for Him. Man
has made an idol of himself which he adores, and so does not pray
to, or adore, the true and only God. No wonder, then, that after
superhuman efforts, nature, weak and impotent to fight any longer,
or to attain what it seeks, abandons itself to despair, suicide and
crime. Prayer would have obviated all this. Prayer is like an
incense rising to Heaven, and draws exhilarating graces from
Heaven. It strengthens the strayed soul, giving it back peace
and calm.

Now, here is the second thing I would ask of you. Be calm and
composed. Place all your trust in God. This is not presumption,
as you have worked and studied hard all the year, so don’t alarm
yourselves. Study quietly. Pray, and confide in your Mother,
Mary Immaculate, and all will go well. He who trusts in Her
shall not be confounded.

We had, in the foundation of the Chicago Hospital, a visible

253

Letter to the Ahimnae of Rome — May, 1905

proof showing how powerfully Heaven helps those who invoke
with faith. We went to Chicago, after leaving New Orleans on
the 10th February, where I bought some ground for our Orphan¬
age. This now has a beautiful villa, facing some of the principal
roads of the town, and extending into various parks until the
grounds reach the crystal waters of the river Bayou St. John. When
I arrived in Chicago to complete all arrangements in the hospital
which was to be opened on February 26th, I found there were two
months more work to be done. The date of opening had, however,
been fixed, and it could not be changed. The President of the Hos¬
pital, the celebrated Dr. Murphy, whose fame is world-wide as a
surgeon and the inventor of surgical instruments which bear his
name, wished to be present at the opening of the Hospital. He was
about to go to Florida on account of his health, and would not
have been able to be present if the date was postponed, and would
therefore have been obliged to forego such a pleasure. This I cer¬
tainly could not countenance.

What a work! It is a vast edifice six stories high. Though it
is solidly built of enormous stones, still the interior had to be
brought up-to-date to meet the requirements of modern medical
science and surgery. So there was needed a number of workmen,
masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and decorators. But
this was the least important of all. There was the organization
of the staff, which had to receive the sick the day after the
inauguration. Only tliose who have experienced such a big task
can understand what it all means. The Sisters worked day and
night. The work seemed to increase instead of decreasing. People
even remarked, ‘Tt is too much; it cannot be finished; there
are too many difficulties ahead.’’ But firm trust in the Heart of
Jesus kept us calm, and amidst this tranquillity the work was
quickly and well done, so much so that on February 28th we
were able to open the doors of the Hospital, and at the same time
feel sure the critical eye of the public would have no reason to
find fault or ridicule.

It was a great day for the New Columbus Hospital. We called
it ‘*The Day of the Lord,” as it was all His work. Even a
most clear sky, with a sun which made the blue waters of the
immense lake Michigan sparkle, seemed to participate in the feast.

The opening of a Hospital, though it is a great event for the

254

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

medical profession, does not awaken great sympathy in the public,
as people shrink from these asylums of pain. Great, then, was the
surprise of the worthy Archbishop Quigley, when he saw himself
surrounded by 4,000 people who crowded around the chapel and
reception rooms to hear him speak. Several thousand people were
sent away, as there was no room nor any hope of their being
accommodated at the ceremony. All agreed that there had never
been such enthusiasm over the opening of a Hospital in the United
States as there was on this occasion. It was the Lord's Day, the
work of the Lord.

The morning ceremony was purely religious, and consisted of
the blessing of the House by the Archbishop, followed by a long
procession of people. There was a Solemn High Mass, with a
sermon by His Grace the Archbishop. A pleasant surprise awaited
the congregation at the close of His Grace's touching sermon, when
the Archbishop read a telegram from His Holiness the Pope, who
sent his blessing. You, young ladies, who are so privileged at
seeing His Holiness so frequently and receiving his blessing,
experience holy emotions in your souls. You can imagine, then,
with what enthusiasm this telegram was received by the doctors
and guests. It came as a heavenly message. It was as precious
as the distance is great which lies between these shores and the
Vicar of Christ. Not knowing how they could better express their
gratitude, they asked me to send a telegram of thanks to His
Holiness, which I did very willingly, as I was so pleased to see
how well the Holy Father's precious blessing was received. As
for myself, I look upon the blessing of His Holiness as a pledge
of heavenly favours, for I have always noticed that success attends
every work which has been sealed by it. The hand of the Holy
Father is never raised in vain. Blessed are you who are able to
receive his blessing from him personally. Protected by such a
powerful shield, have courage, for His Holiness' blessing will
extend to your families, interests, studies and examinations.

At the dinner, the function was enhanced by a select musical
programme, interspersed with eloquent speeches by the most
eminent persons present, i.e., Doctor Murphy, Chief Justice
Brentano, and other distinguished personages and visitors.

The medical faculty of the city classify our Hospital as one of
the first order. All agree that it is in a most charming position.

Letter to the Alumnae of Rome — May, 1905

255

and that its architectural features stamp it one of the best in
Chicago. As for modern requirements of science, everything is of
the latest. Every ward is governed according to the hygienic laws
of modern surgery. There are several operation rooms, offices for
sterilization, other rooms for electricity, X-rays, etc. Annexed to
it is a training college for nurses, who, after three years’ training,
obtain their diploma.

The Hospital is situated in the vicinity of a park, with a
splendid view of Lake Michigan. One might say that Nature,
with its invigorating and oxygenated atmosphere, and the science
of the doctors, who form the medical staff, go hand in hand to
secure the well-being of the patients who, in this place of rest,
come to seek their health and to recuperate their strength.

I believe it will please you to hear some of the points of Doctor
Murphy’s speech, which was a glory to the Church and our beau¬
tiful land.

He remarked that as our country was first in science and art,
so also can she boast of being first in the field of Charity. Before
the coming of Christianity, there were no institutions, no expres¬
sions of fraternal charity, like those of our modern hospitals. Even
ancient Greece, with all its culture and civilization, ignored this
noble sentiment and hardly took care of its wounded soldiers.
But Christ came into the world, lighted the fire of Charity, and
Italy had the glory of having the first hospital in Rome, followed
soon after by one in the Campagna Romana. Some centuries
passed before other nations followed her example in these works
of charity, amongst which was England. The Holy Catholic
Church did this work, and continued to practise it all through
the Middle Ages, and there was no Convent that had not annexed
to it an Infirmary, where the poor and the sick were succoured.

Now the Columbus Hospital has begun its beneficent work for
Society, and great numbers of sick seek its shelter and remain
within its walls willingly. We have patients from Colorado and
California. As soon as I saw the Hospital settled, I returned to
these Western States, and now I am amidst the mountains of
Colorado. Whilst I write, the President of the United States
has arrived triumphantly in Denver, after being away for three
months hunting bears amongst the Rocky Mountains. Ten fell
victims to his gun, and he is sending the skins to Washington for

256

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

his daughter, Alice, who asked for them. I have not been able
to follow him and admire the wonderful birds which build their
nests in the highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains, for this is not
my mission, nor have I the strength to do so, but in this splendid
State, which is named as they say after its multi-coloured moun¬
tains, there are flowers and birds of the most brilliant and varie¬
gated colours. Let us thank God, who allows such rays of His
infinite beauty and power to fall on this earth.

The citizens of Denver wish to name President Roosevelt honor¬
ary member of the Press Association of Denver. Do you know
what kind of diploma was offered him? In the neighbouring
mines they excavated a quantity of gold which they fused in their
big foundry. This was then drawn out into a shining sheet of the
most pure and solid gold, upon which they engraved in silver (a
product of Colorado also) the formula of aggregation. This was
in turn studded around with the most precious stones to be found
there. What a beautiful gift! There are like wonders in
California, where I am going as soon as I have bought the ground
for our Orphanage. Here it is the mineral kingdom which boasts
of its wonders. There the vegetable kingdom opens another page
of the book of the beauties of the Universe—pale image of the
Most High.

To Him, then, let us turn our souls, created by Him and for
Him—those souls in which He has infused a great attraction for
the beautiful and great, a proof of our high origin and the end for
which we were created. Let us raise ourselves up from this earth,
and, since we cannot fly from it, let us rise above the things of
the world. The pure intention that we put into our daily work
is the magic wand that changes it all into gold, and the Christian
virtues that we practise blossom forth as so many odoriferous
flowers, wherever we pass. And, whilst faithful to the Divine
commands and to the teachings of Holy Church, let us discharge
our duties, however humble, and the Angels will defend us from
dangers and faithfully note our good works. They will accompany
us to the sojourn of the good God, where our joy and happiness
will be complete. I will not preach to you, my dear young ladies,
for you have heard many sermons in past years in the College.

You know the way. You have the arms to combat with. So
I will content myself by expressing the firm trust I have in my

Letter to the Ahimnae of Rome — May, 1905

257

heart, that even after you leave the College you will show your¬
selves worthy of whatever state of life to which God has called
you, that you will impart to others the lights you have received,
always calling to mind that life is short, and that we have only
one soul which will live eternally in the abode either of glory or
of suffering, according as we have prepared for ourselves either
the one or the other in this life. The thought of the four last
things to be remembered made a Saint of Saint Teresa. May the
holy and the tremendous truths of our Holy Faith strengthen
you not only in the trials of life against the false illusions of the
world that try to deceive you, but let them incite you to do as
much as you can for the students of the Normal Schools who will
be entrusted to your care, so that they may become not only
cultured, but well founded in the maxims of that Holy Faith,
which is the Ark, outside which there is no salvation.

God bless you now, in your examinations; in your scholastic
career and in your state of life, so that you may render it fruitful
to the Church, Country and Society.

Denver, Colorado,

May 9th, 1905.

Mother Frances Saverio Cabrini.
Superior General of the Missionary
Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

CHAPTER XVII

oCetter to tLe Studentd of thi.
^eaclierd C^oiieg^e in i^ome

^deLruar^, 1906

A. M. G. SS. C. J.

Chicago, February, 1906.

My dear Daughters,

I was very pleased to receive your letters and wishes for a
Happy Christmas, though I had hoped that this year, at
least, I would have been in the Eternal City to spend the Holy
Feast with you, and so be able to reciprocate your happy wishes
in person; on the contrary, I must now convey them to you, a
hundredfold, in writing. I confess that such noble and kind
expressions of feelings on your part have given me great consola¬
tion in the deep regret I feel at finding myself still so far from
Rome. Duty alone, which the Missionary must always put before
pleasure,' has kept me so long from Italy, but, believe me, immedi¬
ately the little business which detains me now is finished, I shall
not delay my departure a single day.

How many times have I thought myself almost at the end of
my present Mission in the United States, when I have found new
work to do, work that I could not have neglected without neglect¬
ing the holy interests of the glory of God and the salvation of
souls. But now I am in a position to assure you that in a few
weeks I shall be with you to rejoice in your virtues, in your
progress and in your loving company.

I wrote to you from the summit of the Rocky Mountains,
promising to tell you something of my journey to California, and
I do not think you would be disposed to forgive me if I forgot
my promise. Hence I steal a little time, at one moment from my
Religious and at another from business to converse with you.

259

260

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

I think I wrote to you of my work in Denver for the enlarge¬
ment of the Orphanage we have in that city for the daughters of
our emigrants. It will be enough for you to know' that, with
the help of the Sacred Heart, always ready to favour us, I have
been able to acquire a beautiful property at the foot of the Rocky
Mountains, standing upon a pleasant hill which descends with a
gentle slope to the banks of the Rocky Mountains Lake. The
house, to which a wing is being added, because space is already
limited on account of the thirty orphans which are gathered there
this first year, is surrounded by trees laden with fruit and enhanced
by the proximity of the clear waters of the lake. To the west
extends the imposing Rocky Chain with its summits covered with
snow; to the east is the beautiful city of Denver. To the south
and north are great plains, three-fourths of which include the
territory of Colorado.

Meanwhile, seated in a comfortable carriage of the Santa Fe
railway, which was taking me to Los Angeles, my glance swept
across those immense plains which, around Denver, are dotted
with the cottages of our Italian agriculturists, and w'hich, further
on, are uninhabited, there being immense tracts still of virgin
soil. My thoughts flew to our emigrants, who, in such great
numbers, land every year on the Atlantic shores, overcrowding
still more the already populous city of the east, where they meet
with great difficulties and little gain. In the west there is still
room for millions and millions and its most fertile soil would
offer occupation more congenial to the Italian emigrants, as well
as a field in which to develop their activities and their agrarian
knowledge, and to crown their efforts and labours with copious
results.

This stream of population must have its course intelligently
directed. I know that the Emigration Department is occupying
itself with this problem, which is so important for the welfare of
our emigrants in the United States. The solution, however,
presents great difficulty, not only because of the four thousand
miles which separate the Atlantic from the Pacific, but more
especially because it is difficult to find good-hearted persons who
will occupy themselves with the work and will not speculate in
the sacred interests of the poor.

Poor emigrants are so often cheated by those who pretend to be

Letter to the Students — February^ 1906

261

their protectors. This deception is all the more cruel, because
these so-called protectors know well how to colour their private
interests under the cloak of charity and patriotism!

During my journey I saw these dear fellows of ours engaged
on the construction of railways in the most intricate mountain
gorges, miles and miles away from any inhabited region. Hence
they are separated for years from their families, far from the
Church, deprived of the holy joys which in our own country the
poor peasant has on Sundays at least. In Italy the peasant is
able to put his hoe aside, and, in his best clothes, after having
consecrated the morning to Divine Service and heard the words
of the priest, who reminds him of the nobility of his origin and
of his destiny, and of the value of work consecrated to God, has
one day in the week to devote to his family and to honest amuse¬
ments, and is thus able to resume his work the next morning with
his mind invigorated.

Here the hardest labour is reserved for the Italian worker. There
are few who regard him with a sympathetic eye, who care for him
or remember that he has a heart and soul: they merely look upon
him as an ingenious machine for work. It is true that here the
Italian wins esteem because he is sober, honest, faithful and
industrious, but how much real joy does he not give up in leaving
his native country for foreign lands, without anyone to guide
him on the road of true happiness, which does not consist in
hoarding heaps of money, which, more often than not, cannot
be enjoyed when misfortune comes. How much better his little
field in his native country would be for him. What a great social
and philanthropic work could be achieved by anyone who knew
how to turn these hands, which waste their activity to the advan¬
tage of foreign countries, to the benefit of our own lovely land!
I do not mean to deny that there are advantages in these immense
fertile virgin lands. They certainly offer the emigrants work and
a comfortable life, but I trust that some really generous minds
may arise who will take to heart the interests of the poor, and
direct them well and conscientiously when they land on these
shores.

I can assure you, now, that in my journey through our Missions,
the evidence of the good that is being done by our Institutions
for the emigrants is of the greatest comfort to me. That which,

262

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

being women, we are not allowed to do on a large scale, such as
helping to solve important social problems, is being done in our
little sphere in every State and in every city where our Houses
have been opened. In them the orphans, the sick and the poor
are sheltered, but the good done by coming into contact with a
great number of people, which such institutions of charity make it
easy for the Sisters of the colony to get into touch with, is immense.

The relations between the Sisters and the people are very
cordial. The poor people call them Mothers and Sisters, and
they feel these words are not without meaning, for they know
that with such titles hearts truly maternal correspond. They
know that the hearts of the Sisters palpitate in unison with theirs,
and that, having put aside all thoughts of themselves, the Sisters
make their troubles, their interests and their joys their own. All
this, however, is not our merit, but the fruit of the love of Christ
and of the prodigious fertility of our Holy Religion, the true friend
of the people, the light which guides them in the darkness, the
house of refuge, tower of strength and port of safety.

While I am conversing with you, we have reached the Colorado
Springs, the aristocratic city of Colorado, which rises out of the
shadow of Pike s Peak, one of the highest summits of these moun¬
tains. The weak and consumptive are attracted here by the
mildness of the climate, the salubrity of the surrounding mountains
and the many and various mineral waters, which on every side
spring up fresh, foaming and sparkling. The Indians, astonished
at such a v/ealth of mineral waters, thought their god Manitou,
an Indian word which means Great Spirit, lived in these mountains,
and especially in the one called the “Garden of the Gods.” On
my return I will show you a view of this natural park, several
hundred acres in extent, in which brightly-coloured rocks are
scattered in thousands and sculptured by Nature in the most
strange forms, now imposing, now grotesque, sometimes austere,
sometimes frivolous, as it were, presenting the strangest appear¬
ances. Here, a little further on. General Palmer, one of our good
benefactors, possesses a private “Garden of the Gods,” a real
jewel of art, both as regards the palace he has built and the natural
beauty of the rocks, which here form very high peaks, reflecting
the most varied colours. Among the rocks can still be seen the
nest on an eagle, which for years lived here as queen of the

263

Letter to the Students — February, 1906

mountains. But a short time ago its young eaglet was killed,
and since that day the noble bird has deserted the nest, to the
great regret of the General, as may be imagined, as he had become
very proud of it.

Leaving the Colorado Springs, we reach Trinidad in a few hours.
This is an important field of various mines, especially coal, in
which very many Italians are employed. Our Sisters visit them
regularly, and to these poor people such a visit is like a ray of
sun in the darkness of the bowels of the earth. They speak
to them of their daughters whom they have under their charge,
and of their families whom they have visited. They remind them
of their religious duties, comfort them in the sadness of their
miserable conditions, and always leave them happier, or at least
more resigned to their poverty. The fatigues of the Sisters in
climbing up the steepest mountains are rewarded by the smiles
which light up the faces of these poor people on hearing the
maternal tongue resounding in these dark vaults. Poor miners!
Do you want to know what their life is? Those who work on a
day shift, enter the mines at six o’clock and remain buried there
till mid-day. They come out at twelve o’clock for a short meal,
and go in again at half-past twelve to leave at five. Half-an-hour
is spent in washing themselves and preparing for supper. When
they have finished this meal, feeling worn out, they throw them¬
selves on their little beds, to rise again the following morning at
the sound of the whistle which calls them to work. On Sundays
they smoke and sleep. This is the life they lead far from their
families and separated from the company of men. They. continue
uninterruptedly year in and year out, until old age and incapacity
creep over them, or at least until some day a landslide or explosion
or an accident of some kind ends the life of the poor worker, who
does not even need a grave, being buried in the one in which he
has lived all his life.

Oh, if the voice of religion at least could reach all these poor
people, and teach them to make holy and noble such fatiguing
work, and to render it fruitful for Eternity, what a boon it would
be for them! Thus you see the tremendous responsibility resting
on those who take away the gift of faith from the working classes,
for in so doing they rob them of every hope of the future life,
banishing the love of God from their hearts. Take away the

264 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

supernatural principles and dictates of our Holy Faith, and what
remains but wickedness and the indulgence of every passion?
Pray, my good daughters, that the number of Missionary workers
may be increased, and that they may be really zealous and good-
hearted, because the efforts of such are capable of arresting the
materialism and unbelief which, like a most subtle ether, infiltrates
itself everywhere, causing great, immense and irreparable damage.

Pray that all the docile Faithful may listen to the voice of the
Vicar of Jesus Christ, Pope Pius X, who, conscious of these great
evils which threaten to shake the foundations of Society, proposes
to restore everything in Christ. Strong in the strength of God,
assisted as he is by the Holy Ghost, he will not fail to fulfil in the
Church the high mission to which God has elected him, but at the
same time what fatigue he must suffer, what cares, what troubles
must torment his heart, and preoccupy his mind in such an
arduous task. At least let him feel that he is comforted by the
love and obedience of his children, and let him find in each and
everyone that co-operation which it is our bounden duty to give
to him. This co-operation will make possible the fulfilment of
the holy designs of the Pope and the arresting of the many evils
which threaten to overwhelm the world.

Having left the large manufacturing city of Trinidad, the train
enters the heart of the mountain district. As the locomotive
ascends slowly, we are able to admire the beauty of the landscape.
Every minute the view changes. We behold austere mountains
whose summits are whitened with shining snow, hills quite green
with pine trees and reddened by the colours of the rock and soil,
sharp peaks which seem to touch the sky and on which the eagle
alone rests, plateaus where the hardy goat back from his mountain
excursions comes to browse upon the green grass in which they
are so rich, and where the slow ox and the proud buffalo pasture
together quite unconscious that in the neighbouring glen the howl
of the white bear resounds. Here and there silver streams descend
among the rocks and soon become threatening torrents which, in
rapids and waterfalls, follow their beds of many-coloured rocks.
The name Colorado was never better applied than to this enchant¬
ing country, to these most beautiful natural parks, where the
hand of man could never add greater beauty than that with which
Nature has enriched it.

Letter to the Students — February, 1906

265

In truth, here one exclaims spontaneously: How wonderful is
God in His works! But, meanwhile, we have begun to descend
the western slope, and, turning with a rapid run towards the
Pacific, have crossed the frontier of New Mexico. This country is
most interesting. Here the Indians still live in their pueblos,
little villages constructed like fortresses on steep and almost
inaccessible mountains. It may, indeed, be said that the rock
itself forms three sides of the house. The front is hermetically
sealed, having neither door nor window, so that only by means
of a ladder and an opening in the roof can one descend into their
little houses. It seems that these Indians of New Mexico, unlike
the other more savage and hunt-loving tribes are a temperate,
frugal, industrious race, and devoted to agriculture. It is with
the object of safeguarding their provisions and the fruits of their
labour from the rapacity of their neighbors, that their pueblos
are built like regular fortresses. Looking out of the carriage of
the train, I saw these poor Indians sitting before their hovels,
in their picturesque costumes, making small baskets, at which
industry they are very clever.

When I arrived at Albuquerque, the metropolis of the Valley of
Rio Grande, I was able to approach them, as they were arranged
in double line under the arches of the station, offering to travellers
the products of their industry. Some were selling terra cotta
vases, daisy works and boxes cleverly constructed, while others
contented themselves with offering garments, topaz of various
colours and other little stones found in the Mexican deserts. The
interior of the station contains a beautiful collection of Indian art,
and the cleverest of the Indian people weave the famous Navajo
blankets.

The Indian races are very numerous and varied. Some of them
show an erect forehead and aquiline nose, with a proud intelligence
shining over their countenance, whilst the penetrating eye reveals
the hardiness proper to their race, not to mention their nobility
and kindness of heart. Other Indian tribes are much inferior to
these, and their faces denote an almost stupid dullness. The
women especially, seem very fond of painting their faces in various
colours in such a way as to resemble tattooing.

Many and various are their costumes, which I will not attempt to
describe, because the illustration which I shall bring back with

266 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

me will give you a better idea of them than my own description
could. Just as I got off the train, some Mexicans and a few
Indians crowded around us, delighted at seeing the Sisters. The
Indians more timid than the others came forward gradually,
offering me their little works. Attracted by the shining Cross,
they asked to be allowed to kiss it. Whilst satisfying this innocent
desire of theirs, I thought “How many among these uncivilized
peoples do not yet know God, and are sunk in the darkest idolatry,
superstition and ignorance, without anyone to do them a little
good, and all for want of Missionary workers!’’ Oh! how the
heart of the Missionary suffers when, kindled with zeal for the
glory of God and the salvation of souls, she feels her very forces
paralysed by her powerlessness to enter into every place where
the interests of God call her! These poor souls in the meantime
fix their eyes curiously on one, and seem to say in their mute
languages, “Why do you not come and bring the light of your
Faith amongst us?” Oh, generous and Christian souls! Why
do you not listen to the call of these distant brothers of yours?
You do not lack courage, energy, intelligence or heart. Why
leave hidden and buried so many beautiful gifts with which the
Lord has endowed you, and not employ them rather for the benefit
of those who do not know the true God? Why do you not reflect
that these talents of yours, employed in the service of the Lord,
will produce immense merit on earth and glory in Heaven ? Thus
spoke the poor Indians of Albuquerque to my heart. These Indians
represent to me the numerous and scattered tribes of the west
of the United States and a keen feeling of regret makes my heart
bleed at not being able now, through lack of assistants, to remain
amongst them and to apply myself to their spiritual and intellec¬
tual culture. The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, who
work day and night in the United States, already number more
than four hundred, but they are, however, only as a little blade
of corn in a limitless field. Oh, may the Sacred Heart grant that,
for His greater glory and for the salvation of souls redeemed by
Him, many generous souls may come forward and enrol themselves
in our ranks under the banner of the Sacred Heart! There is
room for everybody, for every activity, for every talent and for
every inclination. She who consecrates herself to Jesus as a
Missionary Sister, willing to carry His name even to the utmost

Letter to the Students — February, 1906

267

ends of the earth, sacrificing her dearest affection and even life
itself, is a true heroine in whose heart the flame of love burns
brightly. She does not stifle her own heart nor put under a bushel
the shining light of intelligence with which God has endowed her.
On the contrary, the flame kindled in her heart becomes a regular
volcano of love which embraces everything. That gleam of light
becomes a brilliant torch, causing darkness to disappear and erring
souls to find their way. Happy the one who, at the tribunal of God,
will be able to present herself followed by a great number of souls
saved through her. The voice of God calls many, but not all
listen to Him. For this reason very often we sorrow at seeing a
great harvest lost for want of workers.

You, my good daughters, in your great mission of education,
are the first co-operators in the Missionary works of the Sacred
Heart, and for this reason you are especially dear to my heart in
the great family which Jesus has given me. I expect much from
you. Not only your native country and religion hope for great
things from you, but all the world. To be a Missionary it is not
necessary to go all over the world. The facility of transport and
means of emigration to-day enable men to pass from one country
to another with the same amount of ease as that with which they
go out of their house into the garden. Every year we see thou¬
sands and thousands of our countrymen landing here. We see
them in constant contact with irreligious and godless people. If
every child that is entrusted to us in our schools is brought up
in the fear of God, if we, moreover, train the little mind, we
thereby educate the heart and instil into that child the principles
of religion and honesty in such a manner that he will grow up a
good Christian citizen. Is it not likely also that this pupil of
ours may in turn become a teacher himself, and prove much more
efficacious in his teaching, because familiar exhortations may often
strike the mind more readily than sterile and academical instruc¬
tions? The teacher who educates her pupils in the way I have
indicated sows the mustard seed abundantly. This seed, accord¬
ing to the words of Our Divine Master Himself, will grow to a
great height, and the Missionary will never know in this life how
much fruit it will have produced unto Eternity. My good
daughters! May your school be not only a school of literature,
science, mathematics and history, but also of virtue, solid Christian

268

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

morality, and you will have rendered a great service not only to
religion but also to your country. Moreover, you will greatly
contribute to make our country honoured and respected by all other
nations.

Now we have left New Mexico and have entered Arizona, or,
to speak more accurately, the desert. Really the deserts of
Arizona are not at all what we should have imagined them to be
from their name; they are neither monotonous nor without life.
They are immense territorities intersected by chains of mountains,
profound abysses, extinguished volcanoes, various coloured peaks
and mounts of gigantic forms, so varied that with a little stretch
of the imagination they seem at one moment like castles with
turrets and towers of defence, while at other times they look like
colossal monuments adorned with an infinite number of columns
and marvellous sculptures. The sands of the desert have already
proved to be fertile soil for whatever the cultivator may desire to
produce, i.e., if he has the courage to dig wells in dry sands and
sow vegetables and plant fruit trees. The great heat of the country
enables the producer to gather his products in the winter when
they are dear. We are approaching California, the land of the
giant in the vegetable kingdom, where the yuccas and shrubs and
herbs assume colossal proportions. Here the cactus, which is
called Cereus giganteus, reaches a height of sixty feet. But the
greatest attraction of this desert consists in the Petrified Forest
and what is called the Grand Canon of Arizona, which is a tract of
about one thousand square acres, which probably flourished on
the shores of an interior sea, and in the evolution of time became
submerged by the waters and is now covered by the sands of the
desert. Here we find lying on the ground or springing up from
the sands, innumerable trunks of petrified trees of different
dimensions, some of them extending to ten feet in diameter. They
seem to have been pines or cedars. Water has gradually filled up
the cells with flints, manganese and oxide of iron mixed with
other such substances, which have given them such beautiful
tints as to elicit the wann admiration of the traveller. Under the
action of the heat or cold, these trunks have become fractured so
that they present the appearance of having been sawn by the
hand of man into enormous disks. In their natural state these
masses of wood do not possess very brilliant colours, but when

Letter to the Students — February, 1906

269

they are skilfully worked, they justify the name of jewel forest,
an appellation given to this wood because every particle of these
trees can be and has been transformed into chalcedony, agate,
amethyst, topaz, etc. One of these trees, to which I am referring,
with its trunk still intact, has fallen across a chasm forty feet
wide, so that it forms a kind of bridge. Its top and root are
buried in the sand, which fact gives you an idea of its height.
You will, surely, be curious to see a specimen of this beautifully
petrified wood, and to satisfy your curiosity I will bring a piece
of it on my return.

From this wonder we pass to another still greater, one which
up to the present moment no one has been able to describe, viz.,
the Grand Canon of Arizona. So I shall not even try to make
you realise the beauties of it when gifted writers have found
their task superior to their ability. The word Canon, from the
Spanish, is used here often to indicate the gigantic gorges, moun¬
tains and precipices, call them what you wish, which the immense
rivers of these countries have excavated in the course of centuries
in these titanic regions. The Grand Canon is an intricate system
of canons, more than six hundred feet in depth, one hundred and
twenty-five miles in width and one hundred and eighty miles in
length. Anyone venturesome enough to look over the edge of the
canon would imagine he was on the top of a very high mountain,
instead of on the edge of a profound abyss, having regard to the
stupendous panorama which is spread before him. It is a labyrinth
of immense architectural forms infinitely varied in design. There
is no reason to envy the pyramids of Egypt or the majestic mauso¬
leums of the Pharaohs, decorated as they are with the most curious
ornaments, when nature can produce these marvels, resembling
sometimes lace or veil, and giving at other times a vision of festoons
hanging from the rocks painted in a great variety of colours such
as the hand that holds the palette can produce. Diaphanous tints
of marvellous delicacy are also to be seen. The highest mountains
which dominate this abyss, change their color according to the
hour of the day; so that the rubies you see now change themselves
later on into emeralds, while afterwards they become as brilliant as
diamonds under the powerful rays of the sun, and like sapphires in
the evening time. In the presence of such an imposing spectacle,

270

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

man feels very small. In the eye of the Faithful, this is an image,
though a faint one, of God.

Down the Grand Canon, the ridges of which are about six hun¬
dred feet high, the train descends at high speed along the sides
of the mountains, coasting, as it were, on the brink of precipices,
until we arrived at the city of Needles, which is but a few feet above
the level of the sea, only to ascend again immediately about three
thousand feet. The position of this city, nearly buried between
two very high mountains, coupled with the nature of the soil, all
covered with lava erupted during past centuries by the neighbouring
volcanoes, makes Needles one of the hottest countries in the world,
or at least in the United States. Really, the heat was suffocating.
Not being able to endure the flaming heat, which entered through
the small windows and even through the cracks or small openings
in the train, I tried to shelter myself behind cushions, but in a
few minutes they also became, as it were, red-hot.

Needles is on the confines of Arizona, and so is the gateway of
California. The darkness of night soon enveloped the country,
which is not very attractive; but the next day, as soon as the sun
rose, the train was running amidst clusters of orange groves, hedges
of eucalyptus, and the most beautiful green meadows and hedges of
flowers. We were in California.

With good reason, this State is often compared with Italy, and
especially with our so-called Riviera, and those who say it should
be compared with the land of promise flowing with milk and honey
are not mistaken. California is rich in gold, silver and every
precious metal, amongst which are the famous mines of Tourinaline,
which provide a stone which is now being used very much. But
one of its principal attractions is its incomparable climate. Here
there is constant spring. The sky is even more beautiful than
that of Italy. It rains only two months in the year. There are
hot days it is true, but in Summer the heat is tempered by sea
breezes. The nights are very cool. When I left California in
the month of December, the hills were already green and the trees
putting forth their new buds. A beneficent fog, loaded with all
the smoke and miasma of the city, rises every evening, but during
the night is pushed slowly towards the sea by a current of fresh
air which comes from the mountains. In the morning another
kind of fog envelops the hills on which the city of Los Angeles

271

Letter to the Students — February^ 1906

stands. The sun takes some time to dissolve it, so that often it
does not rise until ten a.m. This fog, which emanates from the
sea, is of a transparent blue, and as it is driven by the sea winds
in an opposite direction to that of the evening fog, the atmosphere
becomes purified and remains limpid and serene for the rest of
the day.

As far as the climate is concerned, the products of• California
you know better than I. Every fruit tree and every herb grows
to immense proportions. Here we find gigantic trees in the trunks
of which chapels are built and arches cut out through which
motor vehicles pass to and fro. Here is the celebrated water-lily
Victoria Regia, which you know from the description. Here is
to be seen a trunk of Washingtonia Regia hundreds of years old.
It is the giant of the forests, and fell by some unknown accident.
Its immensity is such that a squadron of horsemen can ride over
it as if it were a main street, or, better still, a parade ground,
for military display. Here the geraniums grow to such a height
that they form hedges which divide the various properties, and
sometimes climb to a height of thirty feet and gracefully adorn
the trunks of palms that line the streets and adorn the gardens.

The fruit have a special fragrance and flavour. Here, near Los
Angeles, lives the celebrated naturalist, Burbank, who, adding new
wonders to the wonders of Nature by his ingenious experiments
and graftings, has produced new kinds of fruit and flowers, apricots
and prunes without stones and grapes without seeds.

To the glory of the Church, I must tell you that Mr. Burbank,
was shown the way to success by Abbot Gregory Mendel, who,
half-a-century ago, in his Monastery in Austria, began the experi¬
ment which has made the name of the naturalist of California
famous. What the latter now accomplishes is due to the ingenuity
and skill of an intelligent Augustinian monk. From this we see
how much we owe the Church as the cultivator of sciences and arts.

As soon as I arrived here I began to look round the town and
its suburbs, in order to find suitable grounds for a School and
Orphanage. There is not a hill or valley which I did not visit,
and always with an increasing admiration of God's goodness, which
is so clearly seen in this privileged country. Every valley is a
natural sanatorium, where, by just remaining in the open air
night and day, one is cured of some special disease, and there is

272 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

such a valley for every illness. Those suffering from consumption
have their tents placed at the foot of a hill. In these they sleep
and live, and after some years find themselves stronger and more
vigorous than ever they were. In other places those who suffer
from asthma, nerves and anaemia, likewise recover their health.
The air acts both as doctor and medicine to all.

Los Angeles in 1880 had only eleven thousand inhabitants, now
it counts one hundred and fifty thousand, and in the winter this
number is increased by tourists who come to spend the season
here. Whilst I was there, thirty thousand more were added to
the population. It is only about sixteen miles from the sea, which
is easily reached by an incomparable system of electric trains.
The most elegant palaces, not to be found in other States, adorn
the streets, while villas and parks extend from the brow of the
hills to the plains. There is no house, however small, that has
not a flower garden and palms give the city an elegant aspect.
It was precisely on one of these hills that I found a place adapted
to our work, and I can really say it was prepared for us by the
Sacred Heart, for the palm trees in front of the house hide it so
nicely that it seems like a real Convent. At the same time we are
but a short distance from the town, and at the foot of the hill
where our house is situated the Italian families live, so that the
Sisters find themselves in a few minutes right on the field of work
and are able to quickly reach the School that Bishop Conaty is
erecting for us.

Whilst I was arranging to buy this property, I had the oppor¬
tunity of visiting the Venice of America, as it is called. This
place is situated in a most charming position on the shores of the
Pacific Ocean. It is a small city built after the style of Venice.
There are artificial canals and bridges, small copies, one might
say, of the Queen of the Adriatic, and the canals are crossed
by small gondolas.

Stone buildings are few in number, as are also brick houses in
Los Angeles, but the houses made of wood are of exquisite work¬
manship. Th€:refore, except in the principal streets, which remind
one of Italy, the city consists mainly of tents. There are thousands
so lined up as to form streets of them, and they are as large as
a good-sized room, well-furnished, lighted by electricity, and even

Letter to the SUidents — February, 1906

273

the richest leave their palaces at least for a month to enjoy the
freedom of the Pacific beach.

A restful and pleasant trip was oifered to me by Mr. Banning,
owner of the famous Santa Catalina Island, who granted us the
passage on his motor boat. So much I had heard of this pretty
island, that I could not leave California without being able to tell
you something about it. There we went recently, on a sunny day,
when the sky was cobalt blue and the ocean well deserved the name
of '"Pacific”. The three hours trip seemed very short, absorbed as
we were in the sight of the ocean and sky. As we approached, only
the outline of the rocky island could be seen—about thirty miles in
length—but on entering the bay, the fog gently lifted like the cur¬
tain of an immense stage, revealing the enchanting scenery prepared
by the hand of God. I thought I was viewing, in a dream, an
earthly paradise. Against the background of a sapphire blue sky,
rose green mountains dotted here and there by elegant villas,
nestling among pines and palms. The air is so clear that distances
can scarcely be measured, for the power of vision seems to increase.
In the transparent blue waters the bottom of the ocean is easily
seen, swarming with myriads of fish, among them the flying fish that
suddenly darts in the air like an arrow, and dives into the waves.
Seals, imported from Newfoundland playfully swim among the
fish, which accustomed to their company, seem to pay no attention
to their antics; as they are not frightened by men diving and swim¬
ming in their midst. Such is the harmony of nature reigning here.
More friendly still are the aquatic birds, playing around and
hovering over the fishermen. Thousands of sea gulls live in the
bay of Avalon, flying, dipping or gently rocking on the waves.
They roost on sail masts, on the edges of boats, on rocks. Any object
rising above the waters is adorned by their elegant white forms.
But a more enchanting sight may be enjoyed by taking a trip in a
glass bottomed boat. I had heard of the undersea gardens of Santa
Catalina and I imagined that through some optic illusion, produced
by mirrors and lenses, people could see fantastic plants and flowers
at the bottom of the ocean, and I did not think it worth while to
take the trip; but what I saw surpassed all my expectations.

In the bottom of the boat there is an opening with a glass
window, through which you can see everything in the sea. We
had hardly left land when the sea, which appeared smooth and

274 Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

sandy at the bottom, gradually became full of rocks and then of
green mountains. Between these were plains and valleys, all
covered with green sea plants, which in some places reached a
height of one hundred feet, waving to and fro with the movement
of the sea. There was a never-ending variety of aquatic plants,
some of which bore purple flowers, different kinds of fruit of
delicate tints, fresh like the blossoms of Spring, and they were
continually moved by the waters, as by a breeze. If the view of
a land park is beautiful, I can assure you that a marine park is
much more so, especially when you behold it inhabited by every
kind of fish, including the goldfish, and its rocks adorned by shells
of the most brilliant colours. After two hours of these wonderful
sights we landed on the beach of moonstones. These are rough
pebbles, and when cut and polished they are made up into vari¬
ous kinds of ornaments. The chalcedony of which these are
formed must have fallen from some high mountain. Who knows
how far away? It is beaten by the waves on the beach. Tourist
visitors find them, and thus have the opportunity of carrying
away with them an interesting remembrance of Santa Catalina.
I remained there more than twenty-four hours. The island belongs
to a rich man, who refused to sell it for five million dollars. He has
made it a holiday resort and a terrestrial paradise for tourists.

The perfect system of electric trains which connects Los Angeles
with its suburbs, affords foreign visitors the opportunity of a
beautiful pleasure trip, which I was able to avail myself of through
the kindness of friends. In less than four hours after leaving the
shores of the Pacific, we reached the top of Mount Lowe, six
thousand feet high. Leaving the beach, we ran through vineyards
and fields which reveal the fruitfulness of the soil. There you
have only to sow the seed and leave it to the care of the sun and
rain, and in tlie Autumn you get an abundant crop. In less than
half-an-hour, Los Angeles appeared like a majestic queen with
her beautiful white palaces scattered through the perennial green
of the surrounding hills. Then, between new hills, we reached
the aristocratic city of Pasadena, where the millionaires of the
United States pass the winter. In the midst of green carpets dotted
with flowers and amidst the perfume of orange trees, we reached
the foot of Sierra Madre. To the inhabitants of California, the
word ‘ffoothiir’ suggests all that one can imagine as good, beau-

Letter to the Students — February, 1906

275

tiful and healthy. There, orange and lemon blossom and ripen
without danger of frost, and there one gathers even in winter
the most delicate vegetables. There also the sick recover their
health.

From Altadena, which is at the foot of the mountain, you can
ascend in a railway to a height of five thousand feet. At this
height begins the most attractive part of the sight, because when
once there you immediately enjoy the splendid panorama of the
open valleys and plains. An electric railway, constructed by the
characteristic boldness of the Americans, spreads its lines from
peak to peak, suspended over dizzy abysses below, and then climbs
the rocks of granite, which seem inaccessible, to such a height
of six thousand feet. And so one enjoys the whole beauty of
the mountains without being an alpinist. I spent several hours
contemplating the splendid sight that one enjoys up there, and
stretched my vision as far as the ocean, which one can see on
clear days.

But I must return to Los Angeles. Already our Sisters are well
settled, and have begun their work, not only in behalf of the
Italians but also for the poor Mexicans who are numerous here
and in great need of help. Priests are so few here that the
heretics have already sown their cockle in this beautiful country.
Pve never seen a country in which there was a greater number of
sects, and of the most ridiculous kind. Returning home one eve¬
ning at six p.m., I had to pass through one of the principal streets,
when my attention was drawn to a group of women and men
prostrate on the ground at the corner of the street, crying and beat¬
ing their breasts, whilst one of them preached in a loud voice that
they should be sorry for their sins. I was told to wait a minute if
I wished to see a funny sight.

Then, quite suddenly, they all stood up and clapped their hands
and jumped and danced very joyfully. The preacher assured
they jumped with joy. This practice of theirs has given them
them that the sins they had wept over were pardoned, and so
the name of the ‘‘Holy Jumpers.” There are also the Nazarenes
who profess to live without eating or drinking. Christian Science
holds sway everywhere. Right in the centre of the town these people
have a big tent, where there are written in big letters the words of
Holy Scripture referring to the miracle performed by Saint Peter

276

Travels of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini

at the door of the Temple, and there they perform their miracles,
carefully prepared beforehand, of course. There the lame walk
and the blind see, in the presence of those foolish enough to allow
themselves to be deceived. But a poor lame man who, in good
faith, went in the hope of being cured, was badly treated on one
occasion. The spirit invoked was unwilling to perform the miracle.
The minister shouted, ‘'Lord, listen to us because we are holy and
innocent, and come immediately after you.'' But it was of no use.
The poor man could not walk, and the minister was so displeased
and enraged, that had the man not left the tent in a hurry, it would
have gone ill with him.

Some of cur poor Italians fall into the net set to catch them.
If a good knowledge of our Faith is necessary everywhere, it is
more necessary still in these Protestant countries.

And this shows us how necessary it is to study the Catechism
well. How can a poor emigrant be faithful to the truth he does
not know? How can he practise what he ignores? The small
Catechism contains the greatest doctrines of our Holy Faith. In
it the cultured, who, like the eagle, penetrate the Divine Mysteries,
find food, whilst the simple, not so anxious to speculate, are
contented to find the road which leads to Eternal Life. Take
religion away from man, and nothing remains in this life but
illusion, trials and afflictions without number. Where can he find
the strength to resign himself to trials and misfortune, if he has
not the comforting thoughts which religion suggests? Whence
do rebellions and seditions arise, if not from a lack of religion?
We are greatly mistaken if, desirous as each one is in her own
sphere to contribute to the greatness of our country, we do not
base our hopes on that corner stone which is Christ and His
Church.

Very fortunate you are, my dear daughters, that whilst you
attend to the acquisition of that culture which is necessary for
yourselves, you do not neglect the study of that highest science,
religion. You are still more blessed in the fact that you know how
to draw fruit from this study. Therefore, yours is not vain science
that puffs up, but that which reforms manners, educates the heart
and forms character. Blessed are you in becoming worthy instru¬
ments in the hands of God. The Church and Society expect great
things from you, because your presence alone, your virtues and

Letter to the Students — February, 1906

277

your teachings create a salutary atmosphere, and from you ema¬
nates a beneficent influence, educative in the full sense of the
word, and immense will be the good you will do.

Having finished my work in Los Angeles, I returned to Chicago,
where I found the Hospital progressing very nicely. In the past
twelve months, nine hundred patients have been treated and three
hundred and fifty operations performed with splendid results.

When I arrived, the famous Doctor Murphy, president of the
hospital, asked me what I thought of my children—alluding to the
many doctors that work there night and day. I answered that I
was delighted. It was not question of children, but of physicians
and surgeons, some of whom are already famous in the medical
world; yet, you should see how humbly they submit to the regula¬
tions I dictated, after having studied carefully the local conditions.
If discipline is necessary in a school, it is essential in an institution
of this kind, where great are the dangers of abuses. If I am now
able to leave Chicago with a tranquil mind, it is because I know my
instructions are carefully observed.

Regulations are helpful not only to Religious but to everyone,
for human nature is prone to tire, relax and change according
to events. To persevere in our good resolutions, in spite of difficul¬
ties and aversions, strengthens the character and assures happy
success to individuals and institutions.

And now, my good daughters, after having tired your patience,
I greet you dearly, with the consoling anticipation of seeing you
soon, while I implore for you the choicest blessings of the Sacred
Heart.

Yours most affectionately in Corde Jesu,

Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini.

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